Finnish shopping tax rebate strategy

Shopping abroad is essential for us, so how do we get the tax refund? However, there are many rules. Today, let's see where we can go shopping if we travel to Finland. Besides the airport we are familiar with, there are many choices!

Helsinki Wanta International Airport

Helsinki Airport also has a large number of specialty stores, such as famous Finnish fashion brands Marimekko, IITTALA and Moomin theme stores, which specialize in Finnish souvenirs. It is the best place to dig up tourist souvenirs.

Reindeer products, birch handicrafts, cloudberry jam and even canned bear meat can be found at Helsinki Airport.

Helsinki Airport, which is still being expanded, is a design full of Finnish elements. The airport is full of humanized design, making people feel comfortable and relaxed.

"tax exemption" and "tax refund"

"Tax exemption" and "tax exemption" are two common signs when traveling and shopping. They are all duty-free. The former tax (such as customs duty) has been directly exempted, and the latter tax (such as value-added tax) needs to be operated by itself, that is, to apply for tax refund.

It is also quite convenient to apply for tax refund in Finland, and there are more than one way to choose.

At Helsinki airport, the two companies set up a tax refund counter. In addition to the familiar Global Blue Alliance, there is also a company called Planet (formerly PremierTaxFree) that also provides tax refund service.

To put it simply, the process of tax refund is generally divided into three steps: the first step is to receive and fill out the tax refund application form, the second step is to obtain the customs seal, and the third step is to apply for tax refund.

Take Global Blue Alliance as an example. If China tourists spend more than 40 euros in the same store that day, they can ask the clerk for a tax refund application form. After filling in the relevant information, the store will issue an invoice and package the goods. In order to refund the tax smoothly, we must take good care of these vouchers to ensure that the goods are always in unopened state.

If you leave the EU for home from Helsinki, you can get the customs stamps of all tax refund forms at the tax refund counter or customs office of Helsinki airport before boarding the plane. Because Finland's tax management is strict, it is more likely that the customs will inspect the goods. After you get the customs seal, you can go to the tax refund counter of Global Blue Union to apply for tax refund. The tax refund method can be euro cash refund, credit card refund, Alipay or WeChat RMB refund. Please note that the exchange rate and handling fee for different tax rebates may be different.

Helsinki city luggage

If you have downloaded the "Helsinki City Package" applet on WeChat, you can click "Tencent Tax Refund" on the applet page after completing all the tax refund steps and only collecting taxes. The staff at the airport tax refund point will scan the tax refund code and transfer the tax directly to your WeChat wallet in RMB.

In addition to the tax refund service, the Helsinki City Package also provides many travel tips. I strongly recommend that you download this small program, which is definitely a good helper for you to visit Helsinki!

The main difference between Planet and Global Blue Alliance in tax refund service lies in providing paperless electronic tax refund service. It will bind the products purchased by customers with customer information. The service is based on cloud system and easy to operate. There are two ways of tax refund: cash and credit card. PlanetCompany has tax refund counters in front of the security checkpoint on the departure floor of Terminal 2 of Helsinki Airport and at Gate 32 in non-Schengen area.

Global Blue Alliance Helsinki City

In addition to tax refund at the airport, Global Blue also set up a tax refund service point in downtown Helsinki. In Stockman Department Store, you can enjoy the "downtown refund" service. This method is convenient and quick. After consumption, you can receive the tax refund cash directly, and then you can continue to use it for other expenses during the trip.

The first step of tax refund is to ask the store for the tax refund application form and fill in the information. After the first step is completed, you can go directly to the Global Blue Link Refund Desk in the department store and get a cash refund directly with your valid certificate and credit card as a guarantee.

Before leaving the country, after receiving the customs seal at the Global Blue Alliance counter or customs, you can complete the tax refund by submitting the stamped tax refund application form to the Global Blue Alliance service desk or sending it back to Global Blue Alliance. If the tax refund application form is not sent back within the specified time, the tax refund company will deduct all the refund fees from the guaranteed bank card.

Another service point of "City Retreat" is located at No.21Nadi Street, Espla North, Helsinki. "City Tax Refund" only accepts tax refund forms received locally in Finland.

Rovaniemi Santa Claus Village

Visitors who fly back to China from rovaniemi via Helsinki can consider the following tax refund methods, because Rovaniemi Airport has no tax refund service counter. If your luggage needs to be checked again in Helsinki, you can apply for a tax refund at Helsinki airport.

If the baggage flies directly to China, one way is to carry the items that need to be refunded in the form of carry-on baggage and apply for the refund at the tax refund counter of Helsinki Airport in non-Schengen area. You can also choose to apply for tax refund in advance at the Global Blue Link Service Point of the Arctic Circle Tourism Information Center in Santa Claus Village, rovaniemi. The tax refund point only supports the processing of tax refund forms received in Finland. After completing the necessary formalities, the tax refund point will refund the tax in cash. After that, tourists still need to stamp the customs seal at Helsinki airport and submit the tax bill.

In addition to Helsinki and rovaniemi, Global Blue also has tax refund service points on S-Market in Avaro (address: Petsamontie2), Allegro and Tolstoi trains from Finland to St. Petersburg and Moscow.

There are so many places for tax refund, I believe the tax refund will be successful, but you must be careful not to buy too much, otherwise the travel will increase the burden!