When you shop as a tourist in Spain or Italy, you can get the VAT (the sales tax included in the price) back on what you buy. But not every "tax free" service works the same way. There are two very different models, and knowing the difference helps you pick the faster, simpler one.
With a traditional Tax Refund, you pay the full price in the shop, VAT included, and then try to get part of that VAT back later. With Real Tax Free (the model STAMP uses), you simply do not pay the VAT in the first place. You save it instantly, right at the checkout.
| Traditional Tax Refund | Real Tax Free (with STAMP) |
In the shop | You pay the full price, VAT included | You pay without the VAT |
When you save | After your trip | Instantly, at checkout |
Waiting time | Days or weeks | None |
Refund desks and agencies | Queue at the airport or use a refund agency | None, no intermediaries |
Paperwork | A refund form to keep, track and claim | One official invoice to validate |
What you end up with | Part of the VAT, after the operator's fees | The full VAT, minus a small service fee |
How Real Tax Free works with STAMP
Create your STAMP ID. Scan a QR code, add your details once, and you are ready. Your information is saved, so future invoices are issued in seconds.
Shop and pay without the VAT. At the till, the shop issues your tax free invoice instantly through STAMP, and you pay the price without the VAT. There is nothing to claim back, because you already saved it.
Validate your invoice at customs before you leave. One official invoice, nothing else to carry.
You save the full VAT amount at the moment of purchase. A small service fee applies, based on your invoice amount, and it is always shown to you upfront. Real Tax Free is certified and fully compliant with the tax rules of every country where STAMP operates.
How a traditional Tax Refund works
You pay the full price in the shop, including VAT.
The shop or a refund operator gives you a refund form.
Before leaving the EU, you validate that form at customs.
You then queue at a refund desk at the airport, or wait for the money to reach your card.
Weeks later, you receive part of the VAT back. The refund operator keeps the rest as commission.
The result: you pay more upfront, wait a long time, and rarely get the full VAT back.
A quick example
Say you buy an item in Spain for 121 EUR, which includes 21 EUR of VAT.
Traditional Tax Refund: you pay 121 EUR now, and some weeks after your trip you might receive around 12 to 15 EUR back, once the operator's fees are deducted.
Real Tax Free with STAMP: you pay around 100 EUR at the till (plus a small service fee) and keep the VAT straight away. Nothing to chase later.
VAT rates change by country and by product type, so the exact amount will vary. This example is only to show the idea.
One important step: validate at customs
Real Tax Free still follows the law, so the tax exemption only becomes final once you prove the goods are leaving the EU. Before your flight, validate your STAMP invoice at customs:
In Spain: at the self-service DIVA screens in the airport (a Guardia Civil desk beside them can help if the machine cannot read your invoice).
In Italy: at the OTELLO customs point in the airport.
Keep the purchased goods with you and available in case customs wants to see them, and validate within three months of your purchase.
Because you already saved the VAT in the shop, this step matters: if your invoice is not validated at customs, the VAT you saved is no longer exempt and will be charged to the card linked to your STAMP ID. Validating takes a moment and keeps your saving in your pocket.
Quick answers
Is Real Tax Free legal? Yes. It is a fully compliant tax exemption, certified in every country where STAMP operates.
Who can use it? Travelers who live outside the European Union, shopping during a visit.
Where does STAMP work? In Spain and Italy today.
Is there a fee? Yes, a small service fee based on your invoice amount, always shown before you confirm.
What if I forget to validate at customs? The VAT you saved becomes payable and will be charged to your card, so always validate before you leave the EU.