Tax-free shopping in United States
No. United States has no tourist tax refund scheme today.
The US has no federal VAT or sales tax, so there is no national tourist refund. Sales tax is set by states and cities. Louisiana's tax-free shopping program for international visitors ended on 1 July 2024 (mail-in claims closed 30 June 2025). In Texas, goods exported within 30 days of purchase are exempt from sales tax, and private customs-broker companies refund the tax to international shoppers for a fee at a limited set of stores and locations, mostly near the Mexico border; check the company's terms before you rely on it.
Worth knowing
- Price tags usually exclude sales tax; it is added at the till and the rate depends on the state and city.
- Oregon, Delaware, Montana and New Hampshire have no general sales tax, and Alaska has none at state level (some towns add a local tax).
- Airport duty-free shops sell tax- and duty-free to departing international passengers.
Sources
- Louisiana Department of Revenue: Tax Free Shopping program for international visitors to end July 1 (2024)
- Louisiana Department of Revenue: end of program and closure of refund centers
- Texas Tax Code § 151.307 (export exemption, customs-broker documentation)
- 34 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.323 (imports and exports)
- Tax Foundation: State and local sales tax rates, midyear 2026
- Sales Tax Institute: Can foreign visitors get a sales tax refund?
Rules last checked 24 September 2026. Refund operators and customs can change procedures at short notice; confirm at the store before you buy.
Before you go: check the entry rules for your passport and the best time to visit United States.
Other refund rules: Australia, Austria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam