Request a VAT refund form at the time you make your purchase. The cashier at the store should be able to do this for you.
Have the VAT refund form stamped by a customs official. This can be done as you go through customs on your way out of the country or European Union.
Make a copy of the VAT refund form and store receipt for your records.
Mail the VAT refund form and copy of the sales receipt back to the store. The store will then refund the VAT either by mailing you a check or crediting your credit card.
Find out which refund affiliate the store works with. Global Refund and Premier Tax Free are the two of the largest second-party refund affiliates in Europe, and the store will usually have a sticker in the window advertising if they work with one of these services. If there is no sticker, ask the sales staff if the store works with an affiliate or if you must claim your VAT through the store.
Inform the sales clerk or cashier that you need a "tax-free shopping check" at checkout.
Have customs stamp your "tax-free shopping check" when exiting the country.
Return the stamped check to the refund affiliate. In most major airports the affiliates have kiosks that you can take the check to after going through customs. In this case you will receive an immediate refund in your local currency.
If the airport you're flying out of does not have a kiosk for the affiliate program that you are searching for, the check will have to be mailed back to the affiliate after you return home.
