NF1 form · up to €2,499.99
For any purchase up to €2,499.99 (before VAT). Costs about $10, valid two years, and you may hold up to 10 at a time.
Client guide · US Forces · SOFA
Your guide to US Forces VAT relief in Germany
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How to stop paying the German VAT on almost everything – with FareWell as your example.
19%
German VAT you skip
2
Easy ways to save
10
NF1 forms you may hold
20%
For life with code USLASER
In short
Under the Status of Forces Agreement you can buy most goods and services without the German VAT – with a paper form up front, or through an app afterwards.
As a member of the US Forces stationed in Germany, the Status of Forces Agreement lets you buy most goods and services without the German VAT of 19% (or 7% on some items). It works almost everywhere: everyday shopping, furniture and electronics, car repairs, restaurants, hotels, rental cars and, of course, beauty and wellness treatments. This guide explains how the system works and the two easy ways to use it. We use a FareWell treatment as the example, but the same steps apply to almost every purchase.
Diesen Leitfaden gibt es auch auf Deutsch: Mehrwertsteuerbefreiung für US-Streitkräfte.
Who can use it
- Eligible: US Forces members, DoD civilians and command sponsored family members.
- The sponsor registers once at any VAT office, then adds family members to the account.
- For refunds through the app you need a German bank account (IBAN).
- Your VAT offices nearby: USAG Bavaria (Grafenwöhr, Vilseck, Hohenfels) and USAG Ansbach.
VAT relief is a privilege, not an entitlement, and vendors take part voluntarily.
What it works on, and what it does not
Works for
- Everyday shopping, clothing, furniture, electronics
- Car purchases, repairs, parts and rental cars
- Restaurants and dining out
- Hotel stays and many groceries (at 7%)
- Beauty and wellness treatments
Not allowed
- Purchases for people who are not eligible
- Long term contracts: electricity, phone, leases (there is a separate UTAP program)
- Fuel, tobacco and alcohol to take away (rationed goods)
- Vehicles registered in the German system, and real estate
- Anything with no VAT in the price, such as some medical services
The two VAT forms
Everything runs on two paper forms that you buy in advance at your VAT office.
NF2 form · €2,500 and up
For purchases of €2,500 and more. Costs about $100, valid three months, and you must give the VAT office a written cost estimate before you buy.
Two ways to save
1 · The classic form
Pay the net price straight away
- Buy the right form (NF1 or NF2) at your VAT office.
- Show it to the vendor before you book or pay.
- The vendor bills you without the VAT, so you pay the net price and save the full amount, about 16%.
- Best for larger or planned purchases: furniture, a treatment package, a car repair.
2 · The Remonon app
Pay in full, get the VAT back later
- A German company, NOVAT, runs the Army supported app Remonon.
- Register at your VAT office for your IVN, then buy one NF1 form at the start of the month and upload it.
- Pay full price by card at any vendor and scan the receipt into the app.
- You get about 14% back on 19% items (4% on 7% items) to your bank account; NOVAT keeps a small margin.
- Each receipt up to €240, up to €2,499.99 per household each month, all on that one form.
- Best for small everyday bills where a single $10 form would not be worth it.
Five rules to keep it valid
- Always present the form before the purchase, never after.
- Combine several buys from the same vendor on one form only within the same calendar month.
- For personal use only, never for someone who is not eligible.
- Never split one purchase across forms to get under the €2,500 line.
- You can only remove VAT that is really in the price.
Your exclusive US Forces offer
On top of the VAT saving, here is our standing thank you to the US Forces community.
US Forces exclusive
20% for life
off laser hair removal, exclusive for US Forces
Promo codeUSLASER
A €150 laser session, step by step
| Route | You effectively pay |
|---|---|
| Remonon app: pay €150, about €21 of VAT comes back to you | ≈ €129 |
| NF1 form: we bill you without the VAT | €126 |
| Use the USLASER code first (€120), then remove the VAT | ≈ €100 |
Roughly a third off. Rounded figures; current treatment prices apply.
Read on
Mehrwertsteuerbefreiung für US-Streitkräfte
Frequently asked questions
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