B2B E-Invoicing in Belgium: Update on the 2026 Mandate and Tax Reform
The B2B mandate in Belgium will come into effect on January 1, 2026, impacting the vast majority of the country’s…
Rexel Italy boosts its intralogistics performance with Generix WMS View the press release
Duty-free export has been present in France for several years now, and it is quite advantageous for stores that sell big label products to foreigners, particularly luxury goods.
Any purchase eligible for duty-free export must first be subject to an export sales slip that serves as an invoice, simplified exportation declaration, and contract. BVEs issued by a merchant let residents of a non-EU third-party country perform the procedures necessary to benefit from a VAT exemption:
At the time of purchase, sellers must inform their customers of the procedure, indicate a precise VAT amount for reimbursement and ensure that customers meet the exemption conditions.
In order for buyers to be eligible for VAT exemption, they must be individuals over 16 years of age. They also need to reside outside of the European Union, be visiting France for fewer than six months, and must leave the European continent within three months of purchase. At the time of sale, buyers must be able to prove to a merchant that they meet these conditions.
The following cases are not eligible for exemption:
Goods subject to duty-free purchase cannot be sent by a forwarder, nor can they be sent in a diplomatic bag. They must be brought by visitors in person and transported in their luggage.
In addition to merchandise that is intended for commercial supply, the following goods are not included in the procedure:
Purchases must be made via retail and the amount must be greater than €175 incl. tax. Sales made in-store on a single day must be listed on the same slip.
The PABLO system was implemented to meet export sales slip digitization requirements in effect since January 1, 2014. In French, PABLO is an acronym that stands for “optically scanned sales slip clearance program.” It is a free online service that lets merchants easily make declarations.
As soon as the electronic visa or slip has been received by customs, the merchant pays the listed VAT amount the buyer agreed to, in accordance with the information collected at time of purchase (address, banking information). Sellers can reimburse customers in France or abroad using the payment method of their choice.
When it comes to export sales slips, disputes between buyers and sellers fall under private law. Should the slip be annulled due to non-compliance or omission of required data, customs authorities shall not be held responsible for any damages. Before completing the slip, the seller must ensure that the customer meets all eligibility conditions for duty-free purchase.
While PABLO is an extremely useful tool for small companies given that it’s free, there are other ways to make digitized export declarations. Many companies choose to pair with specialized operators to manage these operations (declaration service, non-compliance insurance, and so on).
These services are commission-based, and can sometimes incur additional costs for distributors. Whatever the type of exportation, it is often more appropriate for large companies to use a solution that includes all declaration types via EDI.
The B2B mandate in Belgium will come into effect on January 1, 2026, impacting the vast majority of the country’s…
Warehousing supply chain integration is key to efficient operations. Learn how advanced solutions like WMS and TMS address challenges and improve performance, along with strategies for building resilience and meeting shifting customer demands.
Learn how supply chain management can be optimized using SaaS solutions and planning software. This article explores key strategies for improving forecasting, enhancing inventory management, and optimizing operational efficiency to achieve supply chain excellence.
Work with our team to build your ideal supply chain software stack and tailor it to your unique business needs.