This article outlines the countries supported for VAT refunds through VAT4U and provides key information about claim submission methods, VAT rules, and recovery processes. You’ll also learn how VAT4U stays up-to-date with VAT regulations and how our system ensures accuracy and transparency for your claims.

Supported Countries

The following list of EU and non-EU countries are supported for VAT refunds:

EU Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. 

Non-EU Countries: Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Iceland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Great Britain

Important notes:

• All countries listed are fully operational for VAT recovery, including domestic VAT (or VAT registration) where applicable.
• Expanding Coverage: If you need support for a country not currently listed, VAT4U can evaluate and activate it if relevant.
• For U.S. Clients: While domestic VAT does not apply, the U.S. remains a key market for international refund opportunities due to its strong client base

Keeping VAT Rules Updated

VAT4U ensures that all VAT rules for supported countries are continuously updated. These rules include:

• VAT Rates: Regular updates to reflect changes in national VAT rates.
• Deduction Rights: Rules for specific expense categories, such as travel or accommodation.
• Time-Based Rules: Handling invoices based on dates and deadlines.
• Reciprocal Agreements
• Addressing specific exclusions between countries (e.g., fuel VAT exclusions between Switzerland and Germany).
• Past VAT Rules: Applying historical VAT rules to ensure invoices are processed accurately, even if regulations have changed since the invoice date.

How VAT4U Ensures Accuracy

To maintain accuracy and compliance, we have:

• Active Monitoring: Our team tracks legislative changes, consults with tax experts, and leverages reputable databases.
• Risk Management Module: This feature transparently displays the VAT rules applied to each claim, helping you spot potential mismatches and understand the logic behind automated decisions.

User Responsibility

While VAT4U works to keep its system accurate and up-to-date, users remain responsible for verifying compliance and ensuring that VAT rules align with their specific needs.

Claim Submission Methods by Country in VAT4U

The following table outlines how VAT claims are processed, from generating reports to fully automated submissions, depending on the country's specific VAT flow.

The methods for submitting VAT claims vary by country and are categorized as follows:

X: Supported Countries for Expenses VAT Rules Coverage
This indicates that the country’s VAT rules for expenses are fully covered. It is separate from claim submission categories (D, F1, F2, M). Additional countries can be supported if needed.

Supported Claim Submission Methods

D: Claim Creation + VAT4U Standard Report
The system generates a detailed report that includes all necessary data for accounting and VAT filing teams. 

F1: Claim Creation + Automated Submission
The system directly connects to the tax portal, logging in with user credentials or certificates to automatically submit the claim data and attachments. This method ensures a seamless, hands-off submission process.

F2: Claim Creation + Ready-to-Submit Protocol Files
The system generates claim data and attachments in the required format for the tax portal, allowing the user to log in and upload the files easily. For 13th Directive claims, a single click generates a complete PDF/XML file ready for submission.

M: Claim Creation + Report for Manual Protocol Preparation
The VAT4U system creates an Excel report with attachments, but the user must manually format and submit the claim data according to the portal’s requirements. The F1 or F2 method can be enabled for a more automated process when necessary.

This system ensures a streamlined and flexible process for VAT refund claims, tailored to the specific requirements of each country.