With the publication of Resolution 097-2023, the National Superintendency of Customs and Tax Administration of Peru (SUNAT) has established the procedure for refunding the general sales tax (IGV) to tourists.
The establishment of this facility previously required a series of reforms and adjustments to Peruvian regulations. This regulation is preceded by Supreme Decree No. 226-2020-EF which modified the regulations of the General Sales Tax and Selective Consumption Tax Law to incorporate tax refunds for tourists – defined as foreign natural persons not domiciled in the country and who remain for no more than 60 days.
At the beginning of 2023, SUNAT published Resolution 005-2023 through which the regulation of payment vouchers and the rules on electronic issuance were modified. The administration changed the rules to allow the issuance of invoices to tourists entering the country.
This invoice can be issued at authorised establishments when goods are sold. In this case, the identification data of the purchaser will not be RUC but a passport.
SUNAT published Resolution 091/2023 in April 2023 to establish rules for the Register of Authorized Establishments (REA) to regulate the registration, permanence and exclusion of taxpayers for the right to return the IGV to tourists.
VAT Refund Procedure for Tourists
On the date of their departure from Peru, tourists who have not exceeded the authorised time of stay in the country can initiate the return procedure with the collaborating entity. Tourists can use the self-management kiosk or the mobile application, which is available inside international air or sea terminals.
The VAT refund procedure for tourists is as follows:
- The tourist must enter their identity document into the self-management kiosk or the mobile application. It must be the same one provided for their TAX FREE records. In the case of the mobile application, they must scan the QR code.
- Select the certificates that correspond to the goods that the tourist bought and is taking abroad.
- The system will assign the channel: red or green.
- Red: The tourist must go to the SUNAT staff located at the checkpoint to show the identity document, the goods purchased and the electronic invoices that support their purchases.
- Green: Validates that the credit or debit card number to pay the IGV refund corresponds to the tourist. This validation also applies to those who were assigned the red channel.
- If the information is validated, the system generates the return request.
The payment to the credit or debit card will be made within five calendar days from the request being registered, discounting the commission that the collaborating entity charges for this service.
Checkpoint Enabled
The checkpoint has been enabled since 2 May 2023 in the pre-boarding control area on the first floor of the Jorge Chávez International Airport.
Seeking more information on this change in Peru? Contact our team of tax experts.
Refer to this page about tax rules in different countries if you’d like to learn more.