ZappTax — Shop Tax Free for Android

I rarely rate apps but in this case, I feel I should. Really great service and the app to use when traveling in Europe for non residents. Easy to use with favorable reimbursement rates. A no-brainer.

There are a few glitches in the app and it takes time getting used to asking for an invoice under the ZappTax name and then having to explain your request at every shop. However, it works and once you get your money back it’s all worth it. It’s also easier to use when you make purchases online as you setup your invoice info once and then you don’t have to worry about it. This works great for Amazon! ZappTax customer service is great. The main request I have is for ZappTax to support purchases in Italy!

At first I was a bit concerned because the process is a bit a complicated and strange: you buy items and have an invoice issued to ZappTax (so technically you’re buying your items for them), then ZappTax issues you a new invoice that states that they sold the item back to you. That invoice comes with the form to claim part of the VAT back. A few observations: - the first time I used that app, given the strange process I didn’t know if it was real and if it would work. Uploading documents on the app didn’t seem to trigger anything, so I had to reach out to their support. Support answers within minutes. - Getting the invoice issued to ZappTax not only makes the process complicated but can be challenging for the person at the store selling you items. I don’t know if I’d be able to get it if I didn’t speak the language. - The customs form got rejected by the automated (PABLO) machine, and I had to get a customs agent to clear it for me. The customs officer seemed a bit puzzled by the ZappTax invoice, but processed the tax refund document since technically this is all OK. Maybe the machine rejected it because I’m an EU citizen living abroad, or maybe it’s because of ZappTax, I got no idea. Again if I had not been speaking the language I don’t know how complicated it would have been. - The FAQ says refunds typically come within 24h. As far as my refund was concerned it took 5 days after a customer rep told me that everything was in order to receive my money. But I did receive it! - The best part now: the amount of money ZappTax refunds is way higher than what you can get through the traditional organizations like Global Refund. They brought the VAT down from 20% to 3%, where the traditional way only brings it down to 8%. So it was definitely worth it. My main concern was that they are a startup, so being a small company it is harder to trust them with your money because they don’t as established of a reputation as other big companies.

Other than their friends and family I am proud to say I was the first ZappTax customer. I was really having trouble trying to organize all my receipts for purchase made on my trip abroad. I sent Zapp all my receipts in one bundle and they were able to process everything for me so efficiently. I had no trouble at the airport and their customer service was beyond incredible. I've never bothered doing refunds before because it was so difficult to gather the information for the claim. I will use them again in the future and have sent the links to all my friends traveling abroad. I was able to get a few hundred dollars/euros back from items purchased. So grateful, thank you guys! Robin