What Every Refund Calculator Leaves Out
A VAT refund calculator stops at the refund. On €1,000 spent in France that is €125 on screen and about €110 landed, once conversion and US duty arrive.
€125.00 on screen, about €110 landed · The Arithmetic
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Exchange-Rates
The Conversion Spread Nobody Counts
A VAT refund currency conversion fee of 3–5% is three to five times what a card network charges for the same job. The easiest deduction on the form to remove.
3–5%, against a 1% benchmark · The Arithmetic
Cash at the Airport or Credit to the Card: What the Choice Costs
VAT refund cash vs credit card: cash costs a handling fee nobody publishes, card costs 3–5% if the currencies differ. Take the card in the form's own currency.
Card — but only in the form's own currency · The Arithmetic
What a VAT Refund Actually Pays: The Whole Sum, Not the Headline Rate
How much do you get back from a VAT refund? About 12% of what you paid, not 20% — and less again once duty and conversion are counted. The whole sum, worked.
About 12%, not 20% · The Arithmetic