Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in train stations and at airports are unavailable, checks at the entrances to public buildings
and tourist sites are increased, and cloakrooms and lockers in museums and at monuments
are closed.
Taxes & Refunds
France's value-added tax (VAT) is known as TVA (taxe sur la valeur ajoutée) and is 20% on
most goods with a few exceptions: for food products and books it's 5.5%, and for medicines it
is 2.1%. Prices that include TVA are often marked TTC ( toutes taxes comprises; literally 'all
taxes included').
If you're not an EU resident, you can get a TVA refund provided that: you're aged over 15;
you'll be spending less than six months in France; you purchase goods worth at least €175 at
a single shop on the same day (not more than 10 of the same item); the goods fit into your
luggage; you are taking the goods out of France within three months of purchase; and the
shop offers vente en détaxe (duty-free sales).
Present a passport at the time of purchase and ask for a bordereau de vente à
l'exportation (export sales invoice) to be signed by the retailer and yourself. Most shops will
refund less than the full amount (about 14%) to which you are entitled, in order to cover the
time and expense involved in the refund procedure.
As you leave France or another EU country, have all three pages of the bordereau valid-
ated by the country's customs officials at the airport or at the border. Customs officials will
take one sheet and hand you two. You must post one copy (the pink one) back to the shop
and retain the other (green) sheet for your records in case there is any dispute. Once the
shop where you made your purchase receives its stamped copy, it will send you a virement
(fund transfer) in the form you have requested. Be prepared for a wait of up to three months.
If you're flying out of Orly or Charles de Gaulle, certain shops can arrange for you to re-
ceive your refund as you're leaving the country, though you must complete the steps outlined
above. You must make such arrangements at the time of purchase.
For more information contact the customs information centre ( 08 11 20 44 44;
www.douane.minefi.gouv.fr ; 8.30am-6pm Mon-Fri).
Telephone
There are no area codes in France - you always dial the 10-digit number.
Telephone numbers in Paris always start with 01, unless the number is provided by an in-
ternet service provider (ISP), in which case it begins with 09.
Mobile phone numbers throughout France commence with either 06 or 07.
France's country code is 33.
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