Value-Added Tax (VAT): What it is and how to get it refunded if you shop while traveling What is a Value-Added Tax (VAT) and can I get it refunded? Updated Thu, Mar 6 2025.

In Europe, VAT rates vary by country, but on average are about 20 percent — far higher than sales taxes in the United States, which averaged 6.6 percent in 2023, according to the Tax Foundation.

Work out how much VAT you'll need to pay on top of a builder's quote or on other purchases. Different rates of VAT apply to different goods and services. There are currently three rates - the ...