When you travel abroad you pay additional government taxes automatically added to virtually all of the goods and services you purchase. This tax is known as VAT (Value Added Tax) and can increase your costs by up to 25%.

You will be pleased to hear that many countries have employed a policy that gives you the opportunity to retrieve this money.

In 1979 and 1986 the EC (European Community) introduced legislation that enabled a company/trader to claim back the VAT paid when hiring or purchasing certain services and/or products.

8th Directive (79/1072/EEC)

This allows EC registered businesses to recover VAT expenditure incurred in other EC countries. For example, United Kingdom based organisation can reclaim the VAT spent in Austria, Belgium, Denmark…

13th Directive (86/560/EEC)

This enables registered traders and companies operating outside of the EC to reclaim the VAT paid during business trips made to EC Member States. For example, a US company is permitted to recover the VAT levied on goods and services within Austria, Belgium, Denmark…

Similar systems have also been implemented in countries outside the EC, including Canada (1996), Norway, South Korea (1997) and Switzerland.

Studies highlight there are many people that do not realise they have these rights - according to some estimates, each year approximately $20 billion worth of recoverable VAT remains unclaimed in Government treasuries in Europe, South Korea and Canada.

Other figures show that US companies are currently reclaiming only 20% of the more than $1 billion they are paying in VAT in Europe.

Although the statistics may not always totally agree on the sums of money involved there is no doubt that a large proportion of companies lose vast amounts of money every year because they are not reclaiming the VAT spent during business trips to EC Member States (and other participating countries).

You will rightly assume there is a lot of bureaucratic red tape involved in obtaining a reimbursement of VAT, however our service is designed to simplify this process for your company and ensure you have the best possible opportunity in achieving a refund.

Information on procedures varies by country and is not always readily available. What is more, foreign languages can make communications with the VAT authorities difficult and frustrating.

All you need to do is keep your original invoices/receipts and call us; we will make all of the necessary arrangements in claiming the money back on your behalf.

Our highly specialised staff will provide a complete service, endeavouring to return your money by:

• Identifying the invoices and receipts that are eligible for reimbursement of VAT.
• Providing advice on the procedures implemented in each country ensuring that the input we require from you is brief and painless.
• Submitting claims to the relevant government entities in the required language (adhering to their detailed regulations).
• Corresponding with the tax authorities to expedite payment of VAT.
• Receiving the refunded VAT, converting it to the currency you require and paying in a prompt manner.
• Lodging appeals (if required) and reacting to any notices made by the tax authority.

Please note we understand that your business is confidential and we therefore maintain the strictest professional ethics and as a result offer you total security.

For further details relating to foreign VAT recovery please refer to the other pages (FAQ’s, Procedures, Costs & VAT Chart) in this part of our website. Alternatively you can contact us - our staff will be happy to answer all of your questions.