SKIPTAX
SkipTax is a Paris-based digital platform founded in 2019 that enables non-EU tourists to obtain VAT refunds on purchases made in France via a mobile app. It serves as France's first officially certified digital tax refund operator, serving international travelers and French retail merchants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What SKIPTAX does
SkipTax is a Paris-based, privately held digital tax refund operator founded in 2019 that enables non-EU tourists to recover VAT on purchases made in France through a mobile and online platform. The company was founded by four co-founders (Raphael, Pascal, Alexandre, and Thierry) and was the first company to receive official digital tax refund operator certification from French customs (Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects), establishing a regulatory position in the French market. SkipTax's core technology is a mobile application (iOS/Android) plus a web portal that lets users register, submit invoices via photo capture, generate digital tax-free forms with barcodes, scan them at customs kiosks, and receive refunds within 24 hours. A separate merchant partner interface allows French retailers to onboard without installation fees, issue invoices in SkipTax's name, and access referral codes, marketing materials, and client tracking statistics.
SkipTax generates revenue primarily through a transaction commission on VAT refunded to users. The company refunds at least 80% of VAT on eligible purchases (up to 100% when users apply promotional or referral codes), retaining the residual — typically around 20% — as its service fee. A minimum total spend of €100 across stores is required per user. Its customer base is two-sided: non-EU tourists (primary segment, served via self-serve mobile app) and French retail merchants (served via the partner portal). Distribution combines product-led mobile app acquisition with content marketing (blog in seven languages) and travel-industry partnerships such as WebBeds. The company is registered as SKIPTAX SAS, is founder-owned with no disclosed external funding, and operates with a team of 1–10 employees from its Paris headquarters at 76 Rue de la Pompe, 75016.
SKIPTAX firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SKIPTAX
- Legal name
- SKIPTAX SAS
- Website
- https://skiptax.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SkipTax is a Paris-based digital platform founded in 2019 that enables non-EU tourists to obtain VAT refunds on purchases made in France via a mobile app. It serves as France's first officially certified digital tax refund operator, serving international travelers and French retail merchants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SKIPTAX industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Tax Refund Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- VAT/GST Tax Recovery & Receipt Compliance (THACADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tax, VAT/GST & Invoicing Compliance for Travel Transactions (THALAHAL)
Keywords
Where SKIPTAX is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SKIPTAX business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- VAT Commission / Transaction Fee: SkipTax charges a commission on the VAT amount refunded to users. The standard rate refunds at least 80% of VAT to users, meaning SkipTax retains approximately 20% or less as its service fee. The rate can be increased to 100% VAT refund when users utilize promotional codes or referral programs, effectively reducing SkipTax's commission.
- Referral Program Revenue: Users can increase their refund rate by referring friends through the referral program. This drives user acquisition while allowing SkipTax to maintain economics.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Tax Refund - 80% VAT Return |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Enhanced Rate with Referrals - Up to 100% VAT Return |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
SKIPTAX product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SkipTax provides a mobile and web platform that enables non-EU tourists shopping in France to digitally recover VAT on their purchases. Users register, submit invoices through the app, scan a digital tax-free form at customs, and receive their refund within 24 hours. The company retains a commission on the VAT refunded, paying users at least 80% (up to 100% via referral/promotional codes) and operates as the first officially certified digital tax refund operator licensed by French customs.
Product overview
SkipTax offers a unified digital tax refund platform for non-EU tourists shopping in France, consisting of a mobile application for consumers and a partner interface for merchants. The core service enables tourists to make purchases, submit invoices, receive digital tax-free forms, and obtain VAT refunds within 24 hours after customs validation. The company operates as an official digital tax refund operator certified by French customs since 2019.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SkipTax Digital Tax Refund Service France's digital tax refund service enabling non-EU tourists to recover VAT on purchases made in France through a digital process involving invoice submission, tax-free form generation, and customs validation.
- SkipTax Mobile Application Mobile app for iOS and Android enabling non-EU tourists to register for free, photograph and submit purchase invoices, receive digital tax-free forms, scan barcodes at customs kiosks, and obtain VAT refunds within 24 hours.
- SkipTax Partner Interface Merchant-facing platform allowing French retailers to offer digital tax refund services to international customers, featuring client tracking, marketing materials, custom referral codes, and statistics on tax-free amounts, with no installation fees.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 16.6% refund on purchases in France
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SKIPTAX
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SKIPTAX technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SKIPTAX partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Atelier ChouxminorA world-renowned Parisian company specializing in creating luxury accessories. Atelier Choux partners with SkipTax to offer tax-free shopping services to international customers purchasing their products in Paris.
- Cave de l'AtriumminorWine merchant partnership enabling international customers to receive VAT refunds on wine purchases. The partnership allows tourists to benefit from tax-free shopping on premium French wines.
- Printemps CaenminorDepartment store in Caen that offers SkipTax's digital tax refund service to its international customers, allowing shoppers to easily claim VAT refunds on purchases.
- WebBedsminorTravel service provider partnership for cross-promotion. WebBeds refers travelers to SkipTax for tax refund services while SkipTax gains access to WebBeds' tourist customer base.
- French Customs (Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects)coreRegulatory partnership with French customs authorities. SkipTax received official certification as a digital tax refund operator, allowing the company to legally process tax-free forms and validate transactions with customs.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SKIPTAX competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Revolut: Revolut offers multi-currency cards, currency exchange, and travel-oriented financial services to international travelers. While not a VAT refund operator, it competes for the same tourist wallet with payment and FX services.
- Wise (formerly TransferWise): Wise provides multi-currency accounts and cross-border payment services relevant to tourists managing refunds in different currencies. While not a direct VAT refund operator, it is an adjacent travel-fintech player serving international travelers with currency conversion and payout.
- Travelex: Travelex provides currency exchange, travel money cards, and payment services targeting international tourists. It is an adjacent travel-fintech player offering FX and payout infrastructure relevant to VAT refund delivery.
Direct peers
- Global Blue: Global Blue is the dominant global VAT refund operator serving non-EU tourists across Europe and beyond. It is the primary direct competitor to SkipTax in France, offering both digital and traditional tax refund services with extensive merchant and airport relationships.
- Taxback.com: Taxback.com operates a global tax refund and VAT recovery service targeting international travelers, with digital capabilities across multiple countries. It is a direct competitor serving a similar tourist customer base with VAT refund services.
- Innova Tax Free: Innova Tax Free is a Spain-headquartered VAT refund operator serving tourists across multiple European markets. It is a direct competitor offering similar digital tax refund services to non-EU tourists, including in France.
- Premier Tax Free: Premier Tax Free is a VAT refund operator offering services to international tourists in multiple European markets. It competes directly with SkipTax for tourist VAT refund transactions and merchant partnerships.
- Tax Free Worldwide: Tax Free Worldwide is an Italian-based VAT refund operator offering digital and traditional tax refund services across European markets including France. It competes directly for tourist and merchant relationships.
- Planet (formerly Planet Payment): Planet is another major VAT refund operator with presence across European markets, serving tourists and merchants with tax-free shopping solutions. It directly competes with SkipTax for tourist VAT refunds and merchant partner sign-ups in France.
Others
- WebBeds: WebBeds is a B2B travel accommodation distribution platform and an existing SkipTax partner. It is comparable as a distribution channel that reaches international tourists, although it operates in a different vertical (lodging distribution rather than VAT refunds).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SKIPTAX social profiles
Digital presenceSKIPTAX financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SKIPTAX leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SKIPTAX funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SKIPTAX M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SKIPTAX
What does SKIPTAX do?
SkipTax provides a mobile and web platform that enables non-EU tourists shopping in France to digitally recover VAT on their purchases. Users register, submit invoices through the app, scan a digital tax-free form at customs, and receive their refund within 24 hours. The company retains a commission on the VAT refunded, paying users at least 80% (up to 100% via referral/promotional codes) and operates as the first officially certified digital tax refund operator licensed by French customs.
Is SKIPTAX a public or private company?
SKIPTAX is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SKIPTAX founded?
SKIPTAX was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SKIPTAX based?
SKIPTAX is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does SKIPTAX make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. VAT Commission / Transaction Fee is the primary driver. The others are referral Program Revenue.
Who are SKIPTAX's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Revolut, Wise (formerly TransferWise) and Travelex. Direct peers are Global Blue, Taxback.com, Innova Tax Free, Premier Tax Free, Tax Free Worldwide and Planet (formerly Planet Payment). WebBeds is listed as an others.
Does SKIPTAX have an API?
No public API is recorded for SKIPTAX.
What industry is SKIPTAX in?
SKIPTAX's product category is Digital Tax Refund Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THACADAF, VAT/GST Tax Recovery & Receipt Compliance, with a secondary code of THALAHAL, Tax, VAT/GST & Invoicing Compliance for Travel Transactions.