How to get a VAT refund in Denmark

Enjoy Tax-Free Shopping in Denmark!

If you’re a non-EU resident, you have the opportunity to reclaim the VAT you’ve paid on your purchases in Denmark. This benefit applies to purchases exceeding 300kr in value. In Denmark, the VAT is 25%.

To be considered a tourist, you must:

• Embark on a vacation to Denmark from your non-EU place of residence and return when your holiday concludes. However, if you’ve been studying, working, or stationed in Denmark or any other EU nation, including roles like being an au pair, your stay isn’t considered a holiday, and thus, you won’t be eligible for a VAT refund.
• Remember, being a non-EU resident is a key factor. If your registered address is in Denmark or any other EU country, VAT refund eligibility doesn’t apply to you.

Please be aware! Shops are not obliged to assist you in obtaining a VAT refund. You may therefore want to make an arrangement with the shop. If the shop is not willing to assist you, you will not be able to obtain a refund.

Refund Calculator for Denmark

How to receive a VAT refund in Denmark

1. Secure Your Invoice

Start the process by obtaining a detailed invoice from the shop. The invoice should encompass key information, including:

• Date of issuance
• Shop’s name and address
• Shop’s VAT registration number
• Your overseas name and address
• Goods’ quantity, type, and value (inclusive of sales price with VAT and VAT amount).

While at the store, be prepared to prove your non-EU residency through your passport, ID card, or other valid identification. Keep in mind, if you’re shopping on behalf of someone else, VAT refund won’t be applicable.

Stores that work with commercial intermediaries, will show that with visible signage and ensure a smoother process. Its worth it to always ask it before you do any purschase.

2. Choose Your Departure Method

Whether you’re carrying or sending the goods, VAT refund possibilities abound.

If You Carry the Goods Upon Departure:

• If the goods accompany you in your personal check-in luggage upon leaving the EU, you’ll need to request a stamp from the customs authorities of the EU country you’re departing from. In the case of hand luggage, you stamp at your last airport before leaving the EU(that means, if you have a layover in Frankfurt, Germany coming from Denmark, you stamp your documents in Frankfurt).
  Present:
  
  • Passport
  • Ticket or itinerary
  • Proof of non-EU residency
  • The goods.
    
• Ensure the stamp is obtained right before your departure from Denmark.

If You Travel Within the EU:

• If you’re journeying from Denmark to another EU country before departing the EU, the customs authorities in the respective EU nation must stamp your invoice, regardless of your mode of travel (plane, car, train, or ferry).
• When travelling via multiple airports, the last EU airport before your exit must stamp the invoice unless you’ve checked in goods for a non-EU destination. In that case, the Danish Customs Agency should provide the stamp.

If You Send the Goods:

• Sending the goods? Secure documentation or a certificate from the customs or another competent authority in your home country. This substantiates the importation of goods into your country.

3. Hand Over Your Documents

After obtaining the required stamp or necessary documentation, send either the stamped invoice or the documentation/certificate to the shop where you made the purchase. Once received, the shop will promptly refund the VAT amount, completing the process seamlessly.

Question & Answers

What if my invoice has not been stamped?

If, by mistake, your invoice has not been stamped, we may accept that you send alternative documentation to the shop. This may be a declaration from your customs authority that the goods have been imported to your home country or a customs receipt, which may be a certified copy.