Tips
Always do some research before going abroad to see if the designer you want to buy from is cheaper in Italy or not. I’ve bought Prada and Gucci in Italy and both are cheaper in Europe than they are here, but I looked up Cartier because I have a bracelet and ring on my treat yourself list and discovered those were actually more expensive in Europe so I steered clear.
For the brands that are cheaper, it is a steal (in girl math terms) to buy in Europe. Even with the dollar to euro conversion and US customs you can still save a lot of money. Depending on the item and how expensive it is we are talking a lot of money in savings…anywhere from a few hundred to over $1,000.
I did a lot of research online before going to Italy to compare prices here vs Europe, which can be done on most website by scrolling down to the bottom and changing the shipping to country from USA to Italy. Once this is done you can now see all the items in their euro price and start your girl math 😉
Aside from a lower starting price, goods in Italy already have the tax figured into the final price which is very different from shopping here in the states and you can get a VAT refund by providing your passport info when purchasing an item to prove that you are not an Italian citizen. The minimum spend to be eligible to get tax back is currently 155 euros so it is easily hit on any designer item.
Italy sales tax is 22% and the minimum stores will give back is ~13% but some stores will increase this percent if you spend more. For example in Sicily when I looked at a black Prada bag and wallet they were giving ~18% back. This time in Milan, I looked at a more expensive bag but would have still only gotten ~13% back but I ask about adding a pair of sunglasses and they said that would bump up the VAT refund to 18%. So if you are in a store shopping make sure you ask them what their standard refund is and if it can be bumped up if you spend more. This way you can figure out if it’s better to buy one item from a couple brands if that’s what you had your eye on or get multiple items at one brand to save more via the higher tax refund.
VAT Refund Process
The store you are at will fill out paper work and then you bring that paper work to complete your VAT refund either at the airport or depending on the type of refund there may be other locations in the city where this can be completed. While some stores do allow you to buy an item and fill out the VAT paperwork with just a photo of your passport (so you aren’t carrying it around), you will always need to physically have your passport on you to complete the VAT refund, so for that reason most people do it at the airport.
The main VAT refund process in Milan is done via Global Blue and the airport process is fairly easy and straightforward. There are about 4 kiosks in the MXP airport and an attendant there to help if needed. You may have to go show your items to a customs officer if you are prompted to by the kiosk but you may just be given a green checkmark to go in which case you do not have to physically show your items. The process at the kiosks cannot be started more than 4 hours before your flight. Another thing to keep in mind for this process is that the items cannot be used, we were told they have to look brand new, so don’t buy a purse and take off all the wrapping etc and use it for a night because customs may inspect and could decline the refund. This is the law to a tee I believe and I’m not sure how strict each location will be but better to be safe than sorry when we are talking hundreds of dollars back or not.
Obviously I’m not an expert on this subject by any means but I wanted to compile some tips and information based on what we’ve experienced. I hope this was helpful for anyone who is planning on shopping while in Italy! Feel free to leave comments with your experience or questions below.
Welcome to The Luxe Pharmacist! My name is Madeline. I am a Clinical Pharmacist with a flair for style, wellness, and all things beauty. Here you will find my favorite things and places, as well as more of my life as a woman in pharmacy. I believe there is always room for a little luxe in your life, so go ahead and dive in! Thank you for visiting my blog, cheers to living a luxe life babes!
