from
Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman
behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com
A café in Le Marais, Paris, 2022.
Photograph
courtesy of Lars Plougmann
https://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent/52291671905/
All taxes and service charges are included in the price on the menu
For good service in a café leave the small change and in a restaurant
3%.
Outside of the joys that a wonderful meal can bring, the lack of
tipping pressure is an additional pleasant surprise when dining in France.
Restaurants in France, by law, include all service charges and taxes in the prices shown on their menus; that is true for the restaurant on the corner and a three-star Michelin award-winning restaurant. In a cafe, leave the small change; no more is expected. A French diner who has enjoyed an excellent meal and good service may round the total on the bill upwards, so, at most, an extra 3% will be left as a thank you, no more. After a poorly served meal, nothing needs to be left. If you wish to show extra appreciation for all-around excellence, then at the very most, leave 5%.
You may see these abbreviations on your menu:
TTC SC or T.T.C. S.C. or Toutes TVA
Comprise, Service Comprise.
The service charge, the tip, and VAT, the added value tax, are all included. Taxes and your tip could reach over 20% of the bill if these charges were not included. Whether or not the initials above are on the menu, by law, all tips, taxes, and service charges are included in the price on the menu.
Very occasionally, an unethical waiter or Maître D’ may try and create a situation where you, a tourist, believe a tip is expected. Remember, You are NOT expected to pay any more than the price on the menu. You do not have to be embarrassed about it; no French diner would be.
Non-European and UK citizens are entitled to the return of taxes on gifts, clothes, and commercial purchases.
The vast majority of French shops in areas frequented by tourists have arrangements where a large percentage of the taxes may be returned. Taxes spent on clothes or gifts, the VAT, Value added Tax could be returned to visitors from outside the European Union when they leave the country. In shops, look for signs advising visitors that the VAT tax, in French, the T.V.A, can be reclaimed. If no signs are visible, ask directly[BN1] .
TVA, T.V.A. or Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée
The VAT or Value-added tax.
This form of tax is used in all European Union countries, and the rate varies from country to country. In France, the VAT rate is 20% for most purchases. For those who make a purchase of over 100 Euros in a single shop in a single day, some 60% of that tax is refundable, as long as those purchases are properly documented.
Purchases that can have tax returned
have to be made at a retailer that offers tax-free shopping. The total purchases
in each individual retailer must exceed €100 (including the tax) on a single
day. The retailer must give the buyer the special documents that allow the
return of most of the VAT when leaving France. Customers must show their passports to the
retailer to prove their non-resident status.
See all the rules and regulations on these websites:
https://www.douane.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/documentation/pdf/detaxe-pablo-%28en%29-vat-refund-process-in-france.pdf
https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/eligibility-vat-refunds-pablo
If you are considering buying gifts in France, it can pay you to make all the purchases in a single store on the same day. Before leaving home, Google, a list of department stores or other stores in the city or town that you will be visiting. Look at their websites; many large department stores and other stores offer additional discounts of 10% to tourists all year round; then you may double-dip. If you visit France when the sales are on, you may well find, as I have done, that the accumulated sale discount, tourist discount, and returned taxes can reach 30-40% of the price in the window; check.
Returnable taxes do not include, unfortunately, your hotel bill, rental car, fuel, or restaurant bills. For other purchases will find that most of the stores in areas that tourists frequent are used to non-European visitors and have all the necessary paperwork. Without the correct paperwork, nothing will be returned! Check with the store that they have official permission to offer this service before you buy.
Sales - Soldes
Photograph
courtesy of Ville de Victoriaville
https://www.flickr.com/photos/villedevicto/35176917662/
VAT tax returns for business expenses in France
Most Non-Europeans residents and companies can receive rebates on their business expenses that include the VAT; that can be 20% of trade show expenses and related expenses. You will need to keep your invoices and other paperwork, as these are refunds you claim after your return home. Before you leave for Europe, check with your accountant or travel advisor about what paperwork you will need to keep and where to send it afterward. However, as for tourists, the taxes on travel expenses, car hire, fuel, restaurant and hotel charges are not refundable.
