The clunky tax-refund system that calls itself “tax-free” is being challenged by Spanish fintech company STAMP. The firm has launched a campaign pushing for tourists to avoid paying VAT at the till — triggering a debate in the tourism and retail sector about whether the whole system needs to be reformed.
Spain, like many EU countries, continues to use the term "tax-free" for services that, in practice, function as deferred VAT refunds to non-EU tourists.
