The sales tax refund is provided on tangible items purchased at tax-free stores and permanently removed from the United States. There is no refund for sales taxes paid for personal services, such as: hotels, restaurants, entertainment and transportation.

When making a purchase and showing a foreign passport or current official picture identification, the international visitor pays the purchase price, including the sales tax, and is given a voucher, along with the associated sales receipt or invoice. To obtain the refund at the “Refund Center” in the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Downtown Refund Center located in Riverwalk Marketplace next to the Convention Center, or the main branch of Capital One Bank in Lafayette and Shreveport, you must present all vouchers and corresponding sales receipts, passport and international travel ticket. The refund is paid is US currency up to $500.