Minister of the Economy, Manuel Caldeira Cabral, has announced the launch of a new boost for non-EU tourists on shopping trips to Portugal.'e-Tax Free' is a pilot project to be launched on April 1st which aims to simplify VAT refunds for tourists making purchases in Portugal.
"e-Tax Free means that tourists, when buying, will have the possibility of getting their VAT refund quickly – they can leave the country without further problems or queues to reclaim VAT," explained Cabral during the opening of a shopping and tourism summit in Lisbon.
The minister said that e-Tax Free starts on a pilot basis on April 1st, and he plans to roll out the scheme at exit points a few months later - on July 1st. He considered that this e-service will work as "a huge incentive” for foreigners coming to Portugal for some retail therapy.
The Economy Minister also reckons that e-Tax Free "will make life easier for shops in their relationship with tourists and will facilitate transit at Lisbon airport and other airports in the country, making it easier and less stressful for those who made purchases in Portugal, to recover VAT on their purchases."
