French VAT (TVA) is 20%. Non-EU visitors can recover ~12% on purchases over €100 in a single store, same day. The trick is the process: PABLO at the airport, customs stamp before check-in, and the operator's commission that cuts your actual refund.
The biggest misunderstanding: "detaxe" sounds like a free money program. It isn't. The operator (Global Blue, etc.) takes a 25–35% commission off the top of the 20% VAT. Real refund ≈ 12% of purchase price, sometimes less after fees.
The other rules that trip people up: (1) €100 must be in a single store, same day — multiple stores don't combine. (2) You must get the form stamped by French customs BEFORE check-in (CDG, Orly). (3) You must leave the EU within 3 months.
What you'd actually receive after the operator's commission, vs. the headline 20% VAT.
From in-store purchase to airport PABLO machine to refund received. With timeline (PABLO at airport before security).
Common ways you walk away with €0: forgot to stamp, lost the form, didn't spend €100 in one store, didn't leave EU in 3 months.
Détaxe must be validated at your LAST point of EU departure. If flying Paris → Frankfurt → New York, do it in Frankfurt. PABLO machines are in most major EU airports.
Yes — bring passport to the Welcome Desk on level 1, ask for "détaxe." They'll process the form. Many large stores have dedicated détaxe desks.
Then no détaxe (you need €100+ per store per day). Solution: cluster your purchases to a single store, or skip détaxe.