All the information to know on how to get refunded the taxes on your purchases.

Tax refund for your purchases in Switzerland

Customers who live outside of Switzerland and who purchase goods worth 300 CHF or more (paid the same day and in the same shop) receive a form at the cash desk for the refunding of VAT.


This form must: 

  • Be stamped by a Swiss customs agent 

  • Be sent in the enclosed envelope to receive the refund  


💡 Does the form have the ‘Global Refund’ logo? You can get your refund at ‘Global Refund’ counters in Paris.  

Tax refund for your purchases in France

People who live outside the European Union and who make purchases worth EUR 175 or more (made on the same day and in the same store) will receive a VAT refund form at the cash desk.  


Travellers who would like to be receive a refund must pass through the staffed Basel St-Louis motorway French border post: 

  • At site B10 (tourist traffic): open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm 

  • At site B8 (commercial traffic): open Monday to Friday from 5:00 am to 9:00 am and 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Saturdays from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm 


When passing through an unstaffed border post, import declarations must still be placed in declaration boxes in Switzerland. Although destination countries no longer process tax refunds, this does not exempt travellers from clearing imported goods through customs. 


💡 Goods can also be easily cleared through customs with the QuickZoll app (at the customer’s expense). 


If you have any problems, please contact the relevant local authorities. TGV Lyria does not accept any liability.