Background and challenges

Sealed Air is a global leader in packaging solutions with a $4.5 billion turnover, 15,000 employees, operations in over 120 countries, and nearly six decades in business. As a multinational business, the company faced significant challenges in managing and reclaiming VAT on expenses across multiple jurisdictions.

Before partnering with Fintua, Sealed Air’s VAT recovery process was fragmented and inefficient.

  • Domestic VAT was inconsistently managed by accounts payable teams across Europe and beyond.
  • The company outsourced International VAT recovery, but this approach yielded minimal returns even after reviewing tens of thousands of receipts.
  • In some markets like Italy, Sealed Air chose not to reclaim VAT due to perceived effort, resulting in missed opportunities.

These inefficiencies left substantial reclaimable amounts unclaimed, signalling a clear need for change.

Solution

When Sealed Air upgraded its expense system, they brought in Fintua – a SAP Concur preferred partner. Our deep knowledge, global tax authority connections and cutting-edge system provided:

  • Automated, efficient VAT reclaim
  • Real-time visibility and actionable reporting
  • Full compliance with international tax regulations

The implementation was smooth and minimally disruptive, with Fintua handling the heavy lifting.

Results

Over four years, the partnership has dramatically improved Sealed Air’s VAT position:

  • €350,000 VAT reclaimed in a single year
  • A centralised, transparent process replacing fragmented efforts
  • A collaborative, trusted vendor relationship that adds long-term strategic value

What Sealed Air says

“Taxback International [now Fintua] are one of our few third-party vendors where we have a genuine two-way relationship. They’ve made a dramatic difference and are an excellent business to work with.”

Mike Thurland, Senior IT Project Manager, Sealed Air UK

Conclusion

Sealed Air’s story is a powerful example of how the right partnership can unlock massive financial benefits and transform tax processes from a burden into a strategic advantage. By trusting Fintua, Sealed Air not only improved their bottom line but also laid the foundation for long-term VAT compliance and efficiency.

For a more in-depth understanding, watch the full case study video below:

Please note, Taxback International has now rebranded to Fintua.