Have you tried using Global Blue? 

http://www.globalblue.com/customer-services/tax-free-shopping/

Global Blue is great, but the shop has to participate in the scheme don't they?

Yea that's right, but worth signing up in case you end up shopping in one, as there are loads and the process is far easier. 

Global Blue is very expensive, is better to go in stores that make them directly the taxe refund without Global blue.

There is nothing to do complicate the tax refund ....

If you use Global Blue you lose 5/6% of the refund !

..sorry above all witten in a block, the line spacing for some reson doesn't seem to work as before..

..written..!

That's right, most of the time, businesses agrees to the tax refund arround  150-200 Euros.

Then you must go to the French Customs for tax-free (as a general rule 19.6%, but there are different levels Ex. Books, Other ) after you need to pay the VAT fo Swiss customs, usually 8%

To understand how interesting when you buy a  furniture in France arround the Price of 500 Euros for the French VAT is almost 100 Euros, while the Swiss VAT is only 32.

So you can earn about 70 CHF.
In addition if your purchase  less of 300 CHF, the Swiss customs do not get pay fees .....

Yes, I  remember at one time I bought some good walking shoes and they were under the equivalent of 300fr.

I got back 50fr on those with no extra customs fee, as Miguel says

Oh.. also.. if you don't go to Bardonnex, and the French side is open and the Swiss not, after the  tax free form is stamped by the French, you have a certain amount of time allowed to find  a Swiss one open and have it stamped by the Swiss.

I don't remember how long now, as never did that. More customs posts were open on both sides at that time. 

Can you tell us Miguel?

I was told that by a friend at the time that the Swiss customs do have a letterbox outside where you can inform them of the purchase, by posting the stamped tax free form in it.They will then get in touch with you. 

So if this is the way you will proceed it's important to put your name, address, tel. number in an envelope with the form, or certainly at the least attach these securely in some way to the form

For Bardonnex, Customs is open 24/24
For other smaller customs, yes it's true there was a box, but you must let the form with your coordinates and paid amount when you receive by mail the payment. The disadvantage with this system that some trade French want to see that you pay tax in Swiss, so you can not receive the French VAT as long as you did not pay the Swiss tax.

In Bardonnex you can do it all in one go. Customs form Annemasse can also do this during the usual hours

Hi,

I know it's old thread but I am trying to get an answer, hope somebody can help. We bought some stuff from Evian and came back on ferry boat.  It was very late and nobody was on Frenc or Swiss side. I have the recipt and Tax free paper filled out by the store employee. In the boarder they have said to take the forms, fll out and leave it in Gare or Ouchy. But we never had any stamp. So can I just feel out this form and send it or I need to get a stamp from some boarder? This was around 3 weeks ago.

Anna

Anna,

It's not done, you can cross again the border, really easy... Choice one is all the time open like ; Bardonnex.

you will need the form of the store and also things that you buy ... I think you have a several months to a tax refund.