Here's What It Means If Your Receipt In France Has 'HT' On It

On your visit to France, there is a quick way to work out if prices include tax or not. While you can get away without having to learn a bunch of French before visiting, one important element to look out for on your receipt is whether the price quoted is indicates as "HT" which stands for "hors taxe" (tax not included). 

The general consumption tax applied to purchases in France is the "taxe sur la valeur ajoutée" (TVA), known as value added tax (VAT) in English. There are four different rates depending on the type of product or service. The general 20% rate is applied to all products and services that are not eligible for reduced rates. There are many exceptions, but a few that you are likely to encounter most often as a visitor: There is a 10% special rate for dining, lodging, and transport; 5.5% for food, non-alcoholic drinks, and books; and 2.1% for press and reimbursable medication. To work out the final price of your purchase you just need to add the VAT to the HT price. If math is not your favorite subject, there are VAT calculators online. The good news, however, is that you rarely need to figure out the final price yourself.

Prices are most often expressed in the final amount, tax included, which is what "TTC" means on your receipt in France. This "toutes taxes comprises" (all taxes included) figure combines the HT amount with the applicable VAT rate. Voilà! The work has been done for you.

Everyday consumer-facing prices will be displayed in this way, which makes it so much easier to track your expenses, particularly if you are traveling to France on a budget. Occasionally you may come across some exceptions where the price quoted is not the final TTC price. For example in the case of professional services as a real estate agent, you may see the mention "honoraires" (fees) followed by HT. Sometimes also referred to as "prix net" (net price), "valeur nette" (net value), or "total partiel" (subtotal), you may come across HT when making online purchases, as shipping charges are added at the final stage before you check out.

Don't get caught off guard. Remember that if the price is HT, the applicable VAT will be added later and, as you now know, this could increase the amount by up to 20%. So now you can add this useful term to your list of essential words and phrases to know before your trip to France, and navigate those French receipts like a local.