Simplified tax refunds: how SkipTax boosts your tourist sales

11 June 2025 · Raphaël Salama

In a competitive retail environment, with international tourist numbers rising, shops have every reason to make the most of one major advantage: tax-free shopping. Often overlooked because of its administrative complexity, the tax refund can in fact become a powerful lever for conversion and bigger baskets. That is exactly where SkipTax makes the difference.

Tax refunds: an underused sales driver

Travellers who live outside the European Union are entitled to reclaim the VAT on purchases made in France. Yet many shops miss out on this opportunity. Why? Because the traditional tax refund process is slow, cumbersome and frustrating, for the shop and the customer alike.

The result: lost sales, stagnant average spend and a customer experience that falls short.

SkipTax: streamline, attract, sell more

SkipTax reinvents the tax refund experience with a 100% digital, fast and user-friendly solution. In just a few taps in the SkipTax app, tourists request their refund, with no paperwork and no hassle. For the shop, set-up is light and fits seamlessly into the buying journey.

The commercial benefits for your bottom line

  • Higher conversion from tourists: a visitor who knows they can get part of the VAT back, up to 16.6% of the price paid, is far more likely to buy, right away.
  • Bigger baskets: the prospect of a refund encourages customers to treat themselves.
  • Stronger loyalty from foreign customers: a smooth, modern tax-free experience makes your shop more memorable and more likely to be recommended, or revisited.
  • Zero admin: SkipTax manages the entire refund process. You stay focused on selling.
  • A modern brand image: by adopting a sleek digital solution, you align your shop with the expectations of today's connected travellers.

A strategic opportunity

With international tourism going strong, digital tax-free shopping is a strategic way to capture visitors' spending power. By choosing SkipTax, you turn a tax benefit into a sales accelerator.

Want to offer digital tax refunds in your shop? Everything is explained on our partners page.