How to get a tax refund on purchases
Tax refund as a travel topic
Shopping abroad is often more expensive than it seems in the storefront. Value added tax is already included in the price. A tourist from Almaty can get part of this money back. The refund mechanism works in dozens of countries around the world.
What a purchase refund gives
A tax refund is compensation for part of the cost of items bought abroad. The store includes the tax in the receipt, and the state gives it back upon export. The refund amount depends on the country and on the receipt size. Sometimes it reaches a noticeable share of the price. For a tourist from Almaty, this is a way to save on gifts and electronics.
But there must be enough purchases, otherwise the refund will not cover the hassle. Large items give a tangible sum, small ones almost nothing. Therefore, purchases are planned in advance, not on the last day. You can only get the money back when exporting the goods in checked or carry-on baggage.
Seasons and destinations from Almaty
In summer, it is convenient to fly from Almaty to Europe and Turkey. In autumn, the Emirates and Egypt open up. In winter, Thailand, Vietnam and ski resorts are popular. In spring, it is good to go to Korea and Japan. Each destination has its own tax refund rules. In Europe, the purchase threshold is higher, in Asia lower. The more expensive the country, the more profitable it is to get a tax refund on purchases.
The season also affects airport queues. In high season, a tax refund takes more time. Plan a buffer before departure.
Step-by-step refund scheme
First, you make purchases for the required amount in one store. Then you ask the seller for a tax refund form. The buyer's passport details are attached to the receipt. Before departure, the goods are presented at the refund counter. An employee puts a stamp confirming export. Only after that can the money be received. Sometimes the refund arrives on the card later.
It is better not to open the packaging before departure. This makes it easier to prove that you did not use the purchases in the country. Keep all receipts until the end of the trip.
Where tax refunds are processed
- counter at the departure airport
- refund point in a shopping mall
- refund operator in the city
- bank terminal in the departure hall
- postal refund after the trip
What to take with you on the trip
Take your passport and a copy of the purchase data. Put the receipts in one envelope. Keep the goods in factory packaging. Write down the purchase amounts in your phone notes. Save the store address and its receipt. Prepare a card for the tax crediting. Check the export deadlines in advance. Do not throw away the boarding pass. It confirms that you left the country. These little things speed up the refund.
Common tourist mistakes
Many open the packaging before the refund counter. Others lose receipts back at the hotel. Some buy too little for a refund. Some come to the counter after check-in. By then the goods are already in the baggage and cannot be shown. Sometimes tourists confuse a tax refund with an ordinary discount. Another mistake is purchases in different stores without a total amount.
Gather everything in one place or check the rules. Then you can get the money back without extra hassle.
Tips before departure
Arrive at the airport with time to spare. Find the refund counter before check-in. Keep purchases at hand, not in the suitcase. Check that the form is filled out without errors. Photograph the documents on your phone. Find out where the money is issued at your terminal. If the refund goes to a card, keep the receipt. This way you can track the tax arrival. A calm order of actions saves nerves.
What to do after the trip
If the money has not arrived, check the status with the operator. Sometimes the refund is delayed because of the bank. Keep copies of all forms and receipts. Write to the operator, indicating the application number. Usually the issue is resolved within a few days. If there were many purchases, keep a separate list. This makes it easier to prove the refund amount. Do not throw away the documents right after the trip.
VAT refund is only possible on purchases at participating Tax Free stores when exporting outside the EAEU. The receipt is issued to a foreign passport, the goods are transported in packaging, and the export deadline is usually 3 months from the receipt date. Plan your trip for October–November or February–March: tickets are cheaper, queues are shorter.
How to get a VAT refund when exporting goods outside the EAEU?
You can get a tax refund on purchases if you buy at participating Tax Free stores and export the goods outside the EAEU. The minimum purchase amount and export deadline depend on the country: in Kazakhstan the receipt is issued directly at the store, while Europe, UAE, and Turkey have their own thresholds.
Getting part of the money back for purchases at foreign stores concerns many tourists from Almaty. Let's break down how to get a tax refund on purchases when exporting goods outside the EAEU and what is needed for this.
Purchase threshold and export deadlines
The receipt is issued to a foreign passport, the goods are transported in packaging, and the customs stamp is placed before flight check-in. The money is refunded to a card or in cash. Plan your trip for October–November or February–March: tickets from Almaty are cheaper, and queues at customs are shorter.
Kazakhstan has a Tax Free system under which VAT is refunded on purchases at stores participating in the program. The deadline within which the purchase must be exported outside the EAEU is limited — usually 3 months from the receipt date. It is better to verify this deadline with the seller so as not to lose the right to a tax refund.
The refund is processed only for goods purchased in person on the day of purchase, and the Tax Free receipt is issued to the tourist's passport.
Which goods are not covered by the program
Some purchases — food, medicines, jewelry, cars — are often excluded from the tax refund program. Check the exact list with the seller before paying so as not to count on a refund in vain. If a purchase is made online, Tax Free is usually not issued — a purchase in a physical store is required. In Europe, a VAT refund is possible only for purchases at stores with the Tax Free logo, not for any purchase.
In the UAE and Turkey, Tax Free works according to its own rules: the minimum purchase amount and export deadlines differ from those in Kazakhstan.
How to issue a Tax Free receipt at a store?
A correctly issued receipt is the basis for a tax refund on purchases. Whether you receive the money depends on how you fill out the paperwork at the store.
Documents for issuing the receipt
The Tax Free receipt for a tax refund on purchases is issued to the tourist's foreign passport, so keep the document at hand when paying. Without a passport, the seller will not be able to process a tax refund on purchases. Check that the receipt correctly states the name, document number, and purchase amount. Keep the paper receipt until the money is credited to the card.
The system operator has the right to request additional documents for the receipt, so do not throw it away immediately after departure.
Requirements for packaging and condition of the goods
Goods for a tax refund must be in packaging and unused. Customs has the right to refuse the stamp if the item has been worn or is without tags. Keep purchases at hand in carry-on baggage, not in checked baggage — they may be requested for presentation. Keep the packaging and receipts until the money is credited under the tax refund.
If the goods are damaged or the packaging is opened, the tax refund on purchases may be denied.
What happens at customs before departure
The customs stamp confirms that the purchases for the tax refund have indeed been exported outside the EAEU. Without it, the Tax Free receipt is invalid, and it will no longer be possible to get the money back with it.
Where the stamp is placed on a direct flight
On a direct flight from Almaty, the export stamp for a tax refund on purchases is placed at the airport in the customs control zone before flight check-in. Arrive early to have time to complete the procedure without rushing. Present the receipt, passport, and the purchases themselves in packaging to the customs officer. If you are flying direct to Dubai or Istanbul, the stamp is placed specifically in Almaty.
Without the stamp, a tax refund on purchases is impossible, so do not postpone processing until the last moment.
Processing when flying with a connection
When flying with a connection, the export stamp is placed at the last point of departure from the EAEU, not in Almaty. If your route includes an intermediate stop in another EAEU country, process the tax refund there. Check at the information desk where the customs control zone is located in the transit airport. Allow connection time with a margin so that you have time to get the stamp.
Otherwise, a tax refund on purchases will not be possible, even if the receipt is issued correctly.
Methods of receiving money and conversion rates
Tax Free money is refunded to a card or in cash at the refund point. The method depends on the system operator, not on the store where you made the purchase.
Refund to a card or in cash
The choice of method for receiving money depends on the Tax Free system operator, not on the store. Cash is issued at the refund point immediately, while money arrives on the card within several days or weeks. Check with the operator in which currency the tax refund on purchases will be returned.
How much is lost on currency exchange
Tax Free money is refunded in the currency of the country of purchase or in tenge. The conversion rate can eat up part of the tax refund amount, especially with a double exchange. If the purchase was made in euros and the refund is in tenge, the losses will be more noticeable. Compare rates at the refund point before choosing the method of receiving money.
Sometimes it is more profitable to take cash in the purchase currency than to exchange it twice.
When to go shopping and how to prepare
The season and destination affect ticket prices and customs queues. Plan your trip in advance to get a tax refund on purchases without unnecessary hassle.
Seasons with low ticket prices
The peak tourist season from Almaty is June–August and the New Year holidays, tickets get more expensive, it is better to book 2–3 months in advance. The low season (October–November, February–March) offers cheap tickets and shorter customs queues when processing a tax refund. In these months it is easier to go through the procedure and calmly get money back for purchases.
Plan your shopping tour in advance to catch a low flight price.
What to consider when choosing a destination
For a trip from Almaty to countries with Tax Free (Europe, UAE, Turkey), you need a passport valid for at least 6 months. For shopping in Dubai and Istanbul, it is more convenient to fly direct from Almaty — fewer connections, less risk of losing the stamp. In the UAE and Turkey, Tax Free works by its own rules, different from Kazakhstan's.
In Europe, a VAT refund is only possible on purchases in stores with the Tax Free logo. Choose a destination taking into account where getting a tax refund on purchases will be easier.
Visa and entry rules change: check the primary source — the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, kgd.gov.kz. The information on this page was verified on 15.09.2026.
In brief
- A tax refund on purchases is processed in stores participating in the Tax Free program.
- The minimum purchase amount for issuing a receipt should be confirmed with the seller.
- Goods must be exported outside the EAEU within a limited period.
- The customs stamp is placed at Almaty airport before flight check-in.
- When transferring, the stamp is placed at the last point of departure from the EAEU.
