Businesses are often looking for additional ways to increase revenue. However, the most significant source of savings may be in plain sight – within their international travel invoices and receipts. Here’s what businesses may be eligible to reclaim from costs incurred during business travel and entertainment.
Often, when planning a business trip, planning the budget can be more challenging than organizing the itinerary. Fortunately, there is a variety of business travel costs that are VAT reclaimable both within the local and international Travel and Entertainment VAT scope. Although that sounds great in theory, how can organizations switch the conversation from ‘potential’ savings to pocketing actual refunds back into their business? The first step is understanding what your business is eligible to reclaim.
Many businesses leave significant savings on the table due to underclaiming on their VAT submissions. The reason? Unidentified hidden expenses. However, the VAT portion of business expenses is fully reclaimable, even when you’re a non-resident organization incurring eligible business expenses in a foreign country. The only question, however, is what exactly constitutes an ‘eligible’ business expense?
One of the most common errors that hinder the VAT reclaim process is claiming VAT on ineligible expenses. The other side of the coin, however, is missing out on the significant VAT reclaim potential within your business due to underclaiming and not including many expenses that are, in fact, VAT reclaimable.
Fortunately, we’re here to help guide you through the VAT reclaim process, one eligible expense at a time.
When navigating through the VAT reclaim process, however, it’s important to remember that the VAT treatment will vary depending on the country you’re reclaiming for. Therefore, the eligible expenses may differ for each unique country and industry. However, a few common expenses form a good baseline for the
VAT reclaim process. Some common eligible expenses within the travel and entertainment reclaim scope include:
The process of recovering VAT on travel expenses can be challenging when considering that the entire process hinges on an organization’s ability to identify the specific eligible expenses within each country and adhere to the country-specific VAT legislation, deadlines, invoicing instructions, and reporting requirements.
Fortunately, you can replace the heavy lifting with our all-inclusive foreign VAT solution. At VAT IT, we understand the importance of tapping into industry-specific VAT opportunities while ensuring you align all processes with foreign VAT legislation.
Feeling too late to the party? Did you know some countries accept back-dated VAT reclaims of up to four years? Tap our experts into your corner and maximize your travel and entertainment costs by injecting up to 27% additional revenue into your business.
VAT in the Events Industry: The Triggers That Catch Businesses Out Most event businesses think they have a VAT plan. What they actually have is a VAT filing plan. Those are not the same thing. Filing returns on time does not protect you if the underlying classification of your supplies is wrong. If admission […]
Branch vs Subsidiary: Why the Distinction Matters More Than You Think for VAT Reclaim Most multinationals know the difference between a branch and a subsidiary from a corporate law perspective. Fewer realise how dramatically that distinction affects their VAT position, and specifically, how much recoverable VAT they may be leaving on the table because of […]
California Is About to Tax SaaS. Here Is What Changes on 1 January 2027. If California was the state your US Sales Tax compliance team never had to think about, that changes in six months. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 122 into law as part of California’s 2026-2027 budget. From 1 January […]
VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA): The Complete Guide to the EU’s VAT Reform VAT in the Digital Age, better known as ViDA, is the European Union’s biggest overhaul of VAT rules in a generation. After nearly two years of political deadlock, the reform is no longer a proposal, it is enacted EU law, with the first major deadlines within the […]
California Is About to Tax SaaS. Here Is What Changes on 1 January 2027. In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organisations are seeking innovative solutions to streamline financial operations, enhance compliance, and drive cost savings. Two leading platforms in this space, SAP Concur and eezi, Powered by VAT IT, offer powerful capabilities individually. When integrated, they […]
Is There VAT on Software and SaaS Subscriptions? What Buyers Need to Know Most finance teams have faced the same issue: an invoice lands for a new SaaS (Software as a Service) tool, and it is not obvious whether VAT should be charged on it, who is responsible for it, or whether it can be […]
Fiscal Representative in France: What Non-EU Businesses Need to Know Many businesses trading in France are required to appoint a fiscal representative to maintain VAT compliance. Whether you are importing goods, storing stock, or selling to French consumers, understanding this obligation before you operate is significantly easier than discovering it after the fact. Key Takeaways […]
VAT IT listed as a Pre-Approved e-Invoicing Service Provider (ASP) by the UAE Ministry of Finance: What Businesses Need to Know VAT IT is proud to announce that we have officially been listed by the UAE Ministry of Finance as a Pre-Approved e-Invoicing Service Provider (ASP). This recognition confirms that VAT IT has successfully […]
8 Best VAT Registration Services for Non-EU Businesses Entering the EU and UK Entering the EU or UK market is a significant commercial milestone. Getting VAT registration right from the outset is what determines whether that milestone becomes a launchpad or a liability. For non-EU businesses, VAT registration is not a straightforward administrative task. […]
8 Best IOSS Solutions for Non-EU E-Commerce Sellers If you are an e-commerce seller, registering with the EU’s Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) is a must. IOSS was created with the goal of simplifying VAT declaration and payment for distance sales of imported goods valued at €150 or less. Traditional VAT collection sees the customer […]
This webinar explains how US businesses can identify and recover foreign VAT, breaking down key concepts like reciprocity and showing where refund opportunities are often missed.