Federal Tax Authority Decision No. 2 of 2018 on Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme

Federal Tax Authority Decision No. 2 of 2018 on Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme

1. Having reviewed the Constitution
2. Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2016 on the Establishment of the Federal Tax Authority
3. Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on Value Added Tax
4. Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017 on the Executive Regulation of the Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on Value Added Tax
5. Cabinet Decision No. 41 of 2018 on Introducing the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme
6. Board of Directors Decisions on the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme, at its third meeting dated 22/11/2017, fourth meeting dated 28/02/2018, fifth meeting dated 25/04/2018, and its sixth meeting dated 29/10/2018.

1. Retailers participating in the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme will initiate providing refund claims to tourists as of 18 November 2018.
2. The Overseas Tourist may reclaim VAT at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Sharjah International Airport, as of 18 November 2018.
3. The Overseas Tourist may reclaim VAT at other UAE International Airports, land ports, and sea ports in which the Scheme is applied, as of 16 December 2018.

1. Where a customer asks the Retailer to make a purchase under the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme, the Retailer shall:
   1. Perform checks as prescribed by the Federal Tax Authority and the Operator to determine whether:
      1. The customer is an Overseas Tourist in accordance with clause 3 of Article 68 of the Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017 referred thereto, and he is present within the State when purchasing the Goods, and is present in the retail store with purchase receipts when requesting the issuance of a refund claim form.
      2. The Supply of Goods was made within a period not exceeding 90 days from the date in which the issuance of refund documents was requested.
   2. Record the customer’s information and purchase details as prescribed by the Federal Tax Authority and the Operator.
   3. Issue the necessary documents and present them to the customer to claim VAT refund on exporting the Goods.
   4. Comply with any procedures relating to the handling, packaging, and delivery of the Goods as determined by the Authority in respect of some Goods or categories of Goods.
   5. Meet any other conditions determined according to an agreement approved by the Retailer to provide a Tax Free Purchase service.
2. No VAT refund forms should be issued by the Retailer to any customer who is not over 18 years old.

1. The Operator of the Tax Refunds for Tourists Scheme shall not refund the Tax to an Overseas Tourist in respect of the Goods unless the Operator verifies that such Tourist is exporting the Goods outside the UAE within 90 days from the date of supply of such Goods.
2. The Operator shall verify the Exported Goods and refund claim according to the criteria to be agreed with the Authority.
3. Where the Authority has provided its consent, the Operator may use a third party to perform verification procedures on its behalf.

1. The Authority may charge fees to the Overseas Tourist as per the following:
   1. An administrative fee amounting to 15% per cent of the amount of VAT to be refunded to the Overseas Tourist;
   2. A fixed fee of AED 4.8 per refund claim.
2. The Operator shall deduct the fees mentioned in clause 1 of this Article from the amount which will be refunded to the Overseas Tourist on behalf of the Federal Tax Authority.
3. The cash VAT refund shall be limited to a maximum of AED 10,000 per Overseas Tourist per 24 hours.

Tax shall not be refunded under the Scheme in respect of any claim where the value of Tax-inclusive purchases from the same Taxable Person from whom the Overseas Tourist requests a refund is not AED 250 or more.

1. Goods that are not accompanied by the Overseas Tourist at the time of leaving the State.
2. Goods that have been consumed, in full or in part, in the State or any other Implementing State.
3. Motor vehicles, boats, and aircraft.

This Decision shall be implemented as of its date of issuance.