Tax refund for tourists in the USA: is there one?
Short answer: no. The United States has no national VAT refund for visitors like many European countries. Sales tax is set by the states, and tourists generally pay it like everyone else.
The Louisiana program ended
Louisiana ran a tax-free shopping program for international visitors for decades. The Louisiana Department of Revenue announced that it ended on July 1, 2024 (see the source below). Older articles that still describe it as active are out of date.
Other states
We know of no general refund scheme for tourists in another state. Some private companies advertise refund services; check the conditions and fees carefully before you rely on one. Ask the store before you pay if it offers anything.
What helps instead
States without sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire and Delaware charge none on most purchases. Clothing is exempt in several states (see the guide on clothing). Tax-free weekends in many states exempt certain items for a few days (see the calendar). A cheaper town or neighbouring state can also be worth the trip: local rates differ a lot.
Customs and taxes at home
What you bring home may be subject to customs duty or import VAT in your own country. The allowances depend on the country; check the rules of your customs authority.
Questions and answers
Can tourists get sales tax back in the US?
Generally not. The only state program for international visitors that we know of, Louisiana, ended on July 1, 2024.
Where is shopping cheapest because of tax?
In states with no sales tax (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware) and during tax-free weekends. See the linked guides.
Is the tax shown on the receipt?
Yes. Look for the tax line on the receipt: it shows what you paid on top of the tag prices.
Source
More guides
- US sales tax for visitors explained
- Sales tax on clothing by state: which states exempt it?
- States without sales tax: where shopping can be cheaper
- Tax-free weekends and sales tax holidays 2026 and 2027
- How to calculate the final price: sale, coupon and sales tax
- Where Summalo's tax data comes from
These pages summarise the rules Summalo uses. They are estimates, not tax advice. At the register, the store's receipt is what counts. Summalo applies these rules to the tag you scan, offline.