The September VAT deadline is fast approaching

Who is the September VAT deadline for? 

September is a crucial month for businesses looking to recover foreign VAT on expense incurred across the EU. Whether your company is based within the EU or outside of it, there are critical deadlines approaching. Missing them could mean forfeiting thousands in recoverable VAT.

The September vat reclaim deadline applies to both EU and Non-EU companies:

1. EU registered businesses (Directive 2008/9/EC)

If your company is registered for VAT in one EU country and incurred business expenses in another EU member state, you are eligible to reclaim VAT on those cross-border costs, such as travel, accommodation, and AP (accounts payable) invoices.

Example: An Italian company reclaiming VAT on supplier invoices from Germany.

Submission method: Electronically via local tax authorities.

2. Non-EU registered businesses  (Directive 85/560/EEC, also known as the 13th Directive)

Non-EU businesses can reclaim VAT on expenses incurred in eligible EU countries. However, requirements are often stricter and typically include submitting original paper invoices, unless otherwise specified.

Example: A US-based company claiming VAT back from business travel expenses in Spain

How can my company prepare?

In order to reclaim EU VAT, copies of the valid VAT invoices and receipts must be submitted to the relevant tax offices ahead of the deadline.

Recover can securely connect to your expense management system to extract all necessary data and images in real-time, providing an end-to-end VAT reclaim solution. Timely submissions are essential to ensure your claims are processed successfully. 

Key deadlines to know

August 10th: The Fintua internal cut-off. Submit your data by this date so we can process and transfer it in time. 

September 30th: Tax official tax office deadline to file your VAT reclaim for eligible 2024 expenses. 

Note: For non-EU claimants, many tax authorities require original invoices to accompany your application or be sent shortly after submission.

Country-specific deadlines

How can my company prepare?

To ensure your VAT reclaim is successful, make sure the following are in place:

• Valid VAT invoices and receipts: Originals may be required
• Letters of Authority: Now accepted digitally in many countries through Fintua’s integration with DocuSign
• No taxable presence in the refund country
• Qualifying expenses: Only business-related costs eligible under local tax laws
• Minimum VAT threshold: Ensure your refund claim meets the minimum amount required by the tax office

With Fintua’s Recover solution, you can extract and organise all the necessary documents in real-time from your expense management systems. We handle the complexity so you don’t have to.

Don’t leave money on the table

VAT reclaim is an often overlooked but significant revenue opportunity. With hard deadlines, manual paperwork and shifting tax authority requirements, it’s easy to lose out on what’s rightfully yours.

Mark your calendar:

• August 10th – Internal deadline to send your documentation to Fintua
• September 30th – Final deadline for most EU tax offices

Act now to make sure you don’t miss out on your VAT refund.

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