A VAT Refund Guide to
France
How to get VAT Refunds from France for your business
Where is your company based?
EU
based businesses

VAT-registered businesses in an EU member state are eligible to recover VAT on business costs from France under the EU VAT Refund Directive.
NON-EU
based businesses

VAT-registered businesses outside of the European Union are eligible to recover VAT on business costs from France under the 13th Directive.
VAT in France: An Overview
In France, the value-added tax (VAT) is referred to as TVA—taxe sur la valeur ajoutée. VAT was fully introduced in France in 1968, making the country one of the first to adopt a VAT scheme, at an initial rate of 19%.
Since then, VAT France rates have remained remarkably consistent and above the minimum standard set by the European Union. The most recent change occurred in 2014 when the standard value added tax rate increased from 19.6% to the current 20%.
Current VAT Rates in France
When it comes to paying VAT, France has five rates, which are categorized as follows:
- Standard (20%) – The standard VAT rate covers any good or service that doesn’t meet the qualifications of the reduced categories. Most products land here.
- Intermediary (10%) – The first reduced rate applies to some forms of transportation, certain foods and non-alcoholic beverages, many pharmaceutical products, renovations and cleaning services, and some cultural activities (such as zoo and monument admission fees).
- Reduced (5.5%) – The second reduced rate applies to essential groceries and water supplies, most books, feminine hygiene products, some medical supplies, and more.
- Special (2.1%) – The third reduced rate is reserved for specific medications and medical supplies, livestock animals, approved newspapers and periodicals, and admission to some cultural events.
- Zero (0%) – The VAT-exempt rate includes international and domestic travel via air or rail. A transaction may also be exempt from the VAT rate if it’s subject to another tax rate.
If your company pays VAT on costs incurred in France and is not a registered business in the country, you can apply for a VAT refund. France gives you until June 30 of the following year to submit a VAT refund.
How to Pay VAT Bills in France
There are three potential schedules for VAT reporting in France:
- Monthly – Most businesses fall under the monthly reporting scheme unless otherwise specified.
- Quarterly – If your annual VAT liability stays below €4,000, you can file your VAT returns quarterly.
- No set schedule – Under special circumstances, businesses need only file when undertaking certain activities.
No matter which rhythm you fall under, you’ll make your VAT payments via télépaiements. In other words, you’ll pay your bill online using direct debit, which can take up to three days to process. Payments must be made via the tax ministry’s online service.
Whether you file monthly or quarterly, your payment deadline falls between day 15 and 24 of the month following your tax period.
France VAT Compliance
If you import goods into France, buy or sell French goods, or store products in a French warehouse, you may need to complete VAT registration. Any business that registers for French VAT must comply with the country’s tax laws.
To comply with French VAT regulations, you must adhere to the following instructions:
- Sign all documents and submit them on time
- Include the necessary disclosure details on all invoices
- Utilize the approved foreign currency rates
- Keep all accounts and records for a minimum of 10 years
To learn more about French VAT compliance or if you have concerns about laws and regulations from this EU member state, be sure to contact VAT IT today.
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Sources:
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Consumption Tax Trends – France. https://www.oecd.org/tax/consumption/consumption-tax-trends-france.pdf
European Commission. What is VAT? https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/what-vat_en
economie.gouv.fr. Quels sont les taux de TVA en vigueur en France et dans l’Union européenne ? https://www.economie.gouv.fr/cedef/taux-tva-france-et-union-europeenne
Which countries have reciprocity with France?
All countries can claim
For a more detailed explanation on what reciprocity means within the scope of VAT, click here:
What expenses are claimable in France?
ENTERTAINMENT & HOSPITALITY
Entertainment
Hotels & Accommodation
Restaurants
EVENTS
Conferences, Trade Shows & Exhibitions
Training Courses & Seminars
GENERAL EXPENSES
Goods
Inter-company charges
Office Expenses
Marketing Costs
Professional Fees & AP invoices
TRAVEL RELATED
Car Rental
Fuel
Public Transport
Taxis
Additional Information
How far back can your business claim VAT from France?
What’s the foreign VAT deadline in France?
How long does it take to receive a VAT refund from France?
Need help with your VAT refund from France?
You don’t have to do this alone. We’ve been helping companies reclaim foreign VAT refunds for over 20 years. We have the knowledge and technology to process your refunds quicker as well as attend to any unforeseen VAT authority queries that may arise.
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