The US Government does not refund Sales Tax to VisitorsUS Customs and Border Protection has clarified on the CBP website that says the below: “The United States Government does not refund sales tax to foreign visitors. Sales tax charged in the United States is paid to individual states, not the Federal government …”.
A VAT, or Value Added Tax, refund in Europe is fairly similar to a tax-free holiday in the States, except it's only available to foreign tourists. A VAT is a surplus charge, often in excess of 25% of the total purchase that is added to most sales in countries inside of the European Union.
Items in Europe are already significantly cheaper to purchase than in the U.S., and you can also get a percentage of your money back from the taxes you paid. Let's break it down. The Louis Vuitton bag that I purchased in Spain was $740 cheaper than the U.S. price.
With Beckham Law, foreign workers who move to Spain and become residents can pay a fixed reduced tax rate of 24% for income up to €600,000 (USD 644,000).After €600,000, the tax rate goes up to 47%. The rate only applies to income generated in Spain for the first six years.
You should take your refund forms, receipts, and the items you bought with you to a VAT office at the airport. Allow enough time before your flight departs. If the merchant didn't give you an instant refund, you might get your tax refund at the last stop before you leave the EU.