A VAT refund guide to France

How to get VAT Refunds from France for your business
Businesses registered in countries outside of France can claim VAT refunds on any costs incurred in France.
The below information details the requirements needed to be eligible for a VAT refund. This includes claimable expense types, France VAT rates, deadlines and claiming periods.
France

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

Entertainment
0%
Hotels & Accommodation
(Not claimable) 0%
Restaurants
10%

Events

Conferences, Trade Shows & Exhibitions
20%
Training Courses & Seminars
20%

Travel Related

Car Rental
(Not claimable) 0%
Fuel
20%
Public Transport
0%
Taxis
0%

General Expenses

Goods
20%
Inter-company charges
20%
Office Expenses
20%
Marketing Costs
20%
Professional Fees & AP invoices
20%

Additional Information

How far back can your business claim VAT from France?
January - December of previous year for all countries
What’s the foreign VAT deadline in France?
30 September for companies that are based inside the EU (including Canary Islands and Monaco). 30 June for companies that are based outside the EU (excluding Canary Islands and Monaco).
How long does it take to receive a VAT refund from France?
Depending on the complexity of your application and the capacity at the VAT authority, it can take up to 4 months 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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