How can I request a VAT refund at Mercadona and who has the right to do so

Request VAT refund in Mercadonaor in any other business in Spain, is not a common procedure, at least not for the majority of consumers, but it is possible in some very specific cases. This procedure is part of the system known as ““Tax Free”regulated by the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT), and allows travelers non-residents of the European Union recover the VAT paid on your purchases during your stay in the country.

The right to request a VAT refund is reserved for travelers who do not habitually reside in the European Unionor to those who live in territories with different tax regimes, such as Canary Islands, Ceuta or Melilla. The logic behind this rule is that VAT applies only to consumption within the EU territory; If a person buys a good in Spain and takes it outside, that product should no longer be subject to the European tax.

The goods purchased must be for personal usenot for commercial activities or resale. They must also physically leave the EU territory within three months from the date of purchase and be transportable and non-perishable.

Conditions and requirements

To benefit from the refund, the total amount of purchases made in the same store and on the same day must exceed a minimum of 90.15 eurosVAT included. In addition, the business in question, in this case Mercadona, must be a member of the system DIVAthe electronic validation procedure for the “Tax Free” managed by the Tax Agency.

Not all Mercadona stores are registered in this system, since the majority of their customers are local residents. Therefore, if a foreign traveler wishes to request a VAT refund, they must ask at the establishment itself if the store participates in the traveler refund program and if it can issue the Electronic Reimbursement Document (DER). This document replaces the old physical form that was stamped at customs.

How to apply for Tax-free?

The customer must inform Mercadona staff that they wish to obtain a VAT refund. At that time, you will be asked to present your passport or document that prove your residence outside the EU. If the store is a member of the DIVA system, the employee will issue a detailed invoice along with the Electronic Reimbursement Document (DER).

Before leaving Spain or the EU, the traveler must go to the DIVA point enabled at the airport, port or border. There the document is electronically validated through an automated system that verifies the effective departure of the property from European territory. In some cases, the authorities They can request to physically see the product.