The VAT refund counter at the Dubai International Airport. EXPAT MEDIA

New app for tourists to claim VAT refund

Tourists in the UAE can now easily claim VAT refunds with a recently launched app, according to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) The FTA launched the Tourist Refund app at the recent Gitex Global in Dubai. According to the FTA, tourists can download the app by FTA services provider company, Planet. “When a tourist buys any item from the UAE store, the merchant scans the invoice and it will be recorded in the app. The newly launched application will have information on each transaction he bought as well the amount of VAT he can claim upon exiting the country,” explained Zahra Al Dahmani, director of the Taxpayer Services Department at FTA. At the airport before exiting the country, tourists can go to the VAT Refund booth to show invoices in the app and claim the refund in cash or card transfer. The process is automated and is aimed at reducing queues. The Tourist Refund is currently available for Android devices and will be available for Apple devices by the end of the year. The UAE has a five percent value added tax on consumer goods, but tourists can claim a refund when they exit the country. ICA/Expat Media
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