I have searched this but couldn't find a satisfactory answer. I am an exchange student in Germany and go back home almost every month. I am non-EU so I am here on a Student Visa. Is it possible to get tax refund for the items I have purchased here?
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Flagged for migration to Expats. – JoErNanO Feb 16 '16 at 16:07
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The official web page explains the process quite clearly.
Your nationality seems to be irrelevant. What is important, however, is whether you have a residence permit or not. You should have already applied for it if you are staying in Germany for longer than 3 months. Without having a residence permit, VAT refunds are possible if you can prove that your place of residence is outside the EU, but if you have a residence permit for Germany, the you cannot get a tax refund. There are many conditions connected to a VAT tax refund, and you will need to check with the vendor before the sale that you will be issued the necessary documentation.
Vince
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Where does it say that the applicant cannot be an EU national? It says that nationality is irrelevant, that place of residence is all that matters. – phoog Feb 22 '16 at 23:04