Tax Free Shopping
at the German-Swiss Border
If you are a Swiss resident shopping in the German border region, you can benefit from tax-free shopping. To make sure you receive your VAT refund quickly and smoothly, here’s everything you need to know about the two available processes: the manual process and the digital system.
✨ Enjoy your tax-free shopping in Germany
Faster, easier, and more flexible with Global Blue!
Manual Process
If you receive a printed Tax Free Form at the store:
- You must stop at a customs office to have your Tax Free Form validated.
- Read our instructions on the Tax Free Shopping in Germany website to learn how the refund process works.
Digital System
If you ask for a digital Tax Free Form in store:
- You need to have an account at the German Customs app.
- The customs validation is completed digitally through the app, read our instructions below to see how it works.
Benefits: no waiting at customs, faster process, sustainable and paperless solution.any
Participating Marchants
Shop with leading brands across fashion, sports, and lifestyle at participating stores along the German–Swiss border, and enjoy a seamless Tax Free Shopping experience with Global Blue.
more to come...
How the Digital System Works
How to use the digital system and receive a digital customs stamp for your Tax Free purchases:
1
Download the dAKZ-App from German customs
- Download the dAKZ-App from German Customs and register in the customs portal. Download now.
- Download the “Zoll Ident” app for secure two-factor authentication.
- Enable location sharing in the settings of your smartphone for dAKZ-App to verify your export.
2
Go Shopping
- Ask for a digital Tax Free Form when paying.
- Show your ident code from the dAKZ-App to the cashier.
- If you are a Global Blue member, also show your membership barcode so your data is automatically transferred to the Tax Free form.
- If you are not a Global Blue member, provide the sales staff with your passport/ID details, issuing country, document type, and your email address or phone number so Global Blue can guide you through the refund process after you leave the store. Become a member now.
3
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Request the digital customs stamp
- Select the purchases you want to export in your dAKZ-App and declare them for the digital customs stamp before leaving Germany (EU).
4
Leave the country and receive the customs stamp
- If Customs validates your export, you must leave Germany within 2 hours.
- If Customs does not validate your purchase, you must visit a customs office when leaving Germany (EU) and present your goods to receive the customs stamp.
- Please check whether the customs office near you is eligible to validate dismissed online transactions.
- You can find an overview of customs offices on the Global Blue website and in the dAKZ-App. View the Map.
5
Receive Your VAT Refund
To receive your VAT refund from Global Blue, we offer you several options:
- Automatic Refund: For an automatic VAT refund from Global Blue, enter your payment details in the Global Blue app within your member area or via the link you received in a message from Global Blue. Download the app now.
- Tax Free Center Konstanz: Receive your refund in cash or to your credit card. This is also possible before leaving Germany.
Customs Offices & Validation Points
Green and Red channel:
- Grenzacherhorn
- Rheinfelden - Autobahn
- Rheinfelden (Stadtbrücke)
- Stetten (Lörrach)
- Weil am Rhein - Autobahn
- Weil am Rhein - Friedlingen
- Weil am Rhein - Otterbach
- ZA Bad Säckingen
- ZA Bietingen
- ZA Gailingen - AbfSt Gailingen - West
- ZA Konstanz - Autobahn (Kreuzlingen)
- ZA Konstanz - Emmishofer Tor
- ZA Konstanz - Keuzlinger Tor
- ZA Laufenburg
- ZA Öhningen
- ZA Rheinheim
- ZA Rielasingen
- ZA Waldshut
Only Green channel (Digital Validation)
- Hauptzollamt Lörrach
- Hauptzollamt Singen
- Gailingen (Rheinbrücke)
German Customs App
Download the dAKZ-App from German Customs and register in the customs portal
Useful Links & Services
Aldi Süd & Tax-Free Shopping
More information about Aldi Süd & Tax-Free Shopping for Swiss residents.
Global Blue Membership
Save Time, Save Money, and Get Exclusive Offers
Enjoy personalised support for a seamless shopping experience:
- Tax Free Forms filled automatically.
- We'll help you manage and track your transactions so you never miss a refund.
- Get priority access to exclusive offers
- You'll be instantly identified in over 300,000 stores worldwide.
