TAX REFUND POLICY

1. What is the Tax Refund service?

Non-EU residents who shop in Italy can be entitled to a VAT refund on goods purchased during their stay, provided that the goods are exported outside the European Union in their personal luggage and all customs formalities are completed correctly.

HappyCrew works with Tax Refund S.r.l. to offer an easy and safe way to claim your VAT refund on eligible purchases made in participating stores.

2. Who is entitled to a refund?

You are generally entitled to a VAT refund if:

• you are resident or domiciled outside the European Union;

• you are temporarily visiting an EU country (tourist / traveller);

• you make a purchase in a store that is part of the Tax Refund network;

• the total amount of your purchase reaches at least the minimum amount indicated on your Tax Refund Form;

• the goods are for personal or family use only (not for resale);

• the goods are exported outside the EU in your personal luggage within the time limit indicated on the Form;

• you obtain the Customs validation (stamp) on your Tax Refund Form before leaving the EU.

3. How to obtain your Tax Refund Form in store

When you shop in a participating store:

1. Show your passport (or equivalent ID proving you live outside the EU).

2. Ask the staff to issue a Tax Refund Form for your purchase.

3. Check that all the details on the Form are correct and complete:

   • name and surname

   • date of birth

   • passport number and issuing country

   • country of residence

   • full purchase details (amount, date, store).

4. The store will give you:

   • your Tax Refund Form;

   • an envelope for Tax Refund (with the Tax Refund logo).

Keep the Form and the envelope with your travel documents. Do not put them in checked baggage.

4. Customs validation at departure

Before you can receive any refund, your Tax Refund Form must be validated by Customs (Customs stamp or electronic validation).

4.1 Departing from Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa or Venice airports

At these airports you can obtain Customs validation and refund directly at Tax Refund desks:

• follow the airport signs for VAT refund / Tax Free / Customs;

• present your passport, Tax Refund Forms, boarding pass and goods (unused and in original packaging);

• follow the instructions of the staff to receive the Customs validation.

Where available, Tax Refund “Priority Desks” may allow you to obtain the validation without additional queues at Customs.

4.2 Departing from another Italian airport

If you depart from a different Italian airport:

1. Before checking in your luggage, go to the Customs office at the airport.

2. Present:

   • your Tax Refund Forms;

   • your passport;

   • your boarding pass or flight booking;

   • your unopened goods.

3. Ask the officer to validate (stamp) your Forms.

If your trip includes one or more connections in the EU, customs validation is normally done in the last airport within the European Union before you leave the EU.

4.3 Departing by land or sea

If you leave the EU by land border or port, go to the Customs office at the last EU station or port before crossing the EU border and request the Customs stamp on your Forms, presenting your passport and your goods.

5. How to get your refund

After you obtain the Customs validation, you have two main options:

5.1 Cash refund at Tax Refund offices

Where available (for example in major airports), you can:

• go to a Tax Refund office;

• present your stamped Tax Refund Form and your passport;

• receive the refund in cash or by credit card according to the options offered there.

Some fees or commission may apply, depending on the type of refund you choose.

5.2 Refund by post

If you do not collect your refund at the airport:

1. Place your stamped Tax Refund Forms in the Tax Refund envelope.

2. Make sure that the envelope shows the same Tax Refund logo as on the Form.

3. Do not use private “Tax Free” mailboxes:

   • use only national public postal services;

   • post the envelope in a public mailbox or at a Post Office.

4. Send the envelope to the address indicated on the Form / envelope (for example):

   TAX REFUND S.r.l.
   P.O. Box 369
   00187 Roma – ITALY

5. Keep a copy or photo of your Forms for your records.

Once your envelope has been received and processed, the refund will be paid according to the method you selected on the Form (credit card, bank card, etc.).

6. Deadlines and conditions

• The Tax Refund Form must be stamped by Customs within the deadline indicated on the Form (usually before the end of the third month following the month of purchase).

• Goods must leave the EU together with you and be carried in your personal luggage.

• Goods must be unused and in original packaging until after you have left the EU.

• If the Customs stamp is missing, or if the Form is incomplete or incorrect, the refund cannot be paid.

• Handling fees and commissions applied by Tax Refund or other intermediaries may reduce the final amount of the refund you receive.

7. Important notes

• Always check that:

  • the logo on the envelope matches the logo on your Tax Refund Form;

  • your personal data and purchase data on the Form are correct;

  • you respect all time limits and border procedures.

• HappyCrew is not responsible for any refunds refused due to missing Customs validation, incorrect Forms, lost mail or changes in local VAT regulations.

• This page is for information only. The exact conditions and procedures are those indicated on your Tax Refund Forms, in the Tax Refund documentation and in the applicable Italian and EU regulations.