Step 1

Look up your state's current sales tax percentage, as well as the sales tax rates of surrounding states. These rates vary from state to state and in some states are only added to certain types of purchases. For example, Massachusetts does not place sales tax on clothing or food.

Step 2

Visit a duty free shop when traveling. These retail outlets sell anything from perfume to alcohol and are often found in international airports and other areas frequented by international travelers. They do not add any local or international taxes onto their goods.

Step 3

Be aware of any upcoming tax free holidays your state may hold. States or some major cities will allow shoppers a day or even a weekend to shop tax free. These tax free shopping days often provide a major boost to retailers' revenues and rival that of Christmas sales. These holidays generally exclude certain major purchases--such as cars and electronics--from the tax lift.

Step 4

Take advantage of organizations that help international travelers shop tax free, like the Global Refund Group. This organization has set up a program allowing shoppers to receive cash refunds of the taxes spent on items in stores that post the Global Refund sign. Refunds are provided if receipts are saved and their Global Refund Cheques are validated at customs (see Resources below).

Step 5

Log on to websites such as Tax Free Shopping that allow shoppers to purchase without the burden of sales tax. This website combines items from a variety of stores, often international, allowing those at home to reap the benefits of tax free shopping opportunities overseas

Get more for your money! Shoppers residing outside the European Union can take advantage of the Tax Free Shopping scheme to reclaim Value Added Tax (VAT) on purchases for export. Just follow the 5 simple steps:

1. Look out for a Tax Free Shopping Scheme sticker in the shop window.
2. Make the minimum purchase; check the amount with the store as different purchase amounts apply.
3. Ask for and complete the Tax Refund Cheque form.
4. When leaving the country, show your passport together with your completed Tax Refund Cheque form to Customs, who will validate your purchases (you should have them handy to show).
5. Collect your cash refund at the nearby Cash Refund office or send the validated form to the Tax Refund company given on the form for a cheque to be sent to your address or for direct crediting to your credit card.

Tax-free shopping

If you are a visitor to Germany from a third country (non-EC country), you can purchase goods in Germany free of sales tax.

The following information was drawn up on the basis of the "Merkblatt zur Umsatzsteuerbefreiung für Ausfuhrlieferungen im nichtkommerziellen Reiseverkehr" (Brochure on Sales-Tax Exemption for Exports in Non-Commercial Travel dated May 2004) by the German Federal Ministry of Finance.

The purchase of goods in the retail trade is free of sales tax under the following presuppositions: You

* are resident in a third country and can prove this to the seller with personal identity documentation;
(Citizenship is irrelevant; only the place of residence is decisive. Thus, a Swiss citizen who is resident in Germany, for example, cannot purchase goods here tax free.)
* do not have a residence permit authorizing you reside in this country for more than 3 months; and
* export the goods within 3 months (that is, before the end of the third month following the purchase) yourself in your personal travel luggage. Your personal travel luggage includes those objects that you have with you on crossing a border, for example hand luggage or the objects in a vehicle used by you as well as the luggage checked in connection with your travel. Hence, baggage sent beforehand or afterwards by post or forwarder does not fulfill the condition.

Specialists in Tax Free Shopping, Premier Tax Free provides international shoppers with an easy and fast solution to recover sales tax (Value Added Tax) throughout the world.

With over 24 years experience in Tax Free Shopping, Premier Tax Free work with the worlds most prestigious Retailers and Merchants to make the tourists’ shopping experience abroad both tax free and hassle free!

Whether your travels take you to Europe, The Americas, The Middle East or Asia Pacific, rest assured that Premier Tax Free will look after you and your tourist tax refund.