tax-free shopping

Meaning

This term refers to buying goods in a foreign country without paying the local value-added tax (VAT) or sales tax. It is usually available to tourists who will take the purchased items out of the country. To get the refund, shoppers typically need to show their passport at the store and process the paperwork at the airport before departure.

Examples

• Is this store eligible for tax-free shopping?

  Is this store eligible for tax-free shopping?

• Make sure to keep your receipts if you want to do tax-free shopping.

  Make sure to keep your receipts if you want to do tax-free shopping.

• You need to show your passport at the counter to get the tax-free shopping form.

  You need to show your passport at the counter to get the tax-free shopping form.

• I saved about fifty dollars on this watch thanks to tax-free shopping.

  I saved about fifty dollars on this watch thanks to tax-free shopping.

• Where is the desk for tax-free shopping refunds at this airport terminal?

  Where is the desk for tax-free shopping refunds at this airport terminal?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to do tax-free shop.

  ✓ I want to do some tax-free shopping.

  'Shop' is a verb or a noun for the store itself; 'shopping' is the correct noun form for the activity.

• ✗ Can I have a tax-free shopping?

  ✓ Can I shop tax-free?

  'Tax-free shopping' is an uncountable noun phrase and does not take the indefinite article 'a'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Excuse me, do you offer ___ at this department store?

  💡 Buying goods without paying local VAT as a tourist.

  Show answer

  tax-free shopping

• To claim your money back for ___, you must visit the customs desk before security.

  💡 The system that lets travelers get refunds on sales tax.

  Show answer

  tax-free shopping