Frequent inquiries from non-resident tourists

Does the VAT exemption on hotels apply if I use online booking platforms?

No, the benefit applies only to reservations made directly with the hotel.

Does the zero VAT apply to all hotels or only to those registered with the Ministry of Tourism?

The benefit applies to hotels registered with the Ministry of Tourism.

How do I know if I have received the corresponding discount in a restaurant?

The discount in restaurants corresponds to the VAT exemption. The refund can be expressed in two ways:

a) The company issuing the card will include in the account statement the discount that appeared on the ticket issued by the POS (Point of Sale Terminal) at the time of purchase.
Each card has its own way of proceeding; if you have any questions, you should contact the financial operator.

b) The discount will be made immediately and will be indicated on the voucher itself.

In the event that the service is provided by companies included in literal E) of article 52 of Title 4 of the Orderly Text 1996, the discount corresponds to 7.38% on the total amount of the operation of the service provided by the intermediary.

Do I need to ask the POS (Point of Sale Terminal) personnel to make sure to enter the discount?

Although it is not an obligation of the user, it is a highly recommendable practice, since if the POS operator omits to include it, the discount will not be operative and this will cause the user the inconvenience of the claim before the omission.

Is it true that by renting through a real estate agency I get a discount of 9 VAT points in its mediation service in the leasing of real estate for tourist destination? (valid 30/4/24)

Yes, whether you pay through debit or credit cards or by electronic money and prepaid cards accepted by the Central Bank of Uruguay. In the event that the service is provided by companies included in literal E) of article 52 of Title 4 of the Orderly Text 1996, the discount corresponds to 7.38% on the total amount of the operation of the service provided by the intermediary.

Did you know that there is a 10.5% discount on the rental of real estate for tourism purposes through real estate agencies, when paying by credit or debit card. If the real estate agency does not accept credit or debit cards, how can I make use of the benefit?

The discount is only given through credit or debit cards, so it is not feasible to make use of it by paying in cash.

Which are the gas stations that apply the 24% or 30% discount on the price of gasoline? Where can I find them?

They are all stations located within 20 kilometers of a border crossing with Brazil or Argentina respectively. The discount is only applicable when paying by credit or debit card.

+ info Decreto 398-007 

What does it consist of and how to access the Tax-Free benefit?

The Tax-Free regime is a specific incentive that promotes shopping tourism in Uruguay. It consists of the application of up to a 14.4% discount on duly identified products (clothing, leather or knitwear, food, beverages or handicrafts) to be used or consumed abroad in Uruguay.

The discount applies only to products included in the regime, made in stores adhered to the system, and as long as the corresponding procedure is completed at the time of purchase and as long as the exit from the country takes place through any of the following border crossings: Carrasco International Airport, Laguna del Sauce Airport, Port of Montevideo, Port of Colonia, Punta del Este Cruise Arrivals Terminal, Salto-Concordia Bridge, Paysandú-Colón Bridge, Fray Bentos-Puerto Unzué Bridge and Chuy.

At the moment of leaving the country, the corresponding procedure for the reimbursement must be completed at the duly identified posts.
We recommend you to visit the Global Blue Uruguay website, where you will find a list of shops and products, as well as Customs points where you can complete the procedure.

In case of doubts and queries, we recommend visiting the official website of Global Blue Uruguay and particularly its FAQ section.