VAT (Value Added Tax)

VAT is a government tax added to the total value of goods and services, similar to sales tax in
the USA.

The following are the circumstances and rates applicable for the products and services we supply:

1.  VAT at 15% is added to all goods and services which are delivered to a UK address,
     regardless of whether they are invoiced to a UK or Overseas address.

2.  VAT at ZERO rate is applied where both the delivery and invoice addresses are within another 
     EU country, provided a valid EU VAT number is supplied.

3.  VAT at ZERO rate is applied where the delivery address is EU or 'Rest of the World', provided
     proof of export can be obtained from the shipping company.

Also see the VAT related information on our Overseas trading page.

VAT Refunds

1.  VAT rates vary from country to country within Europe at rates as high as 25%, which obviously means it can amount to a
     significant extra cost if you do not reclaim it. 

2.  VAT should not be a cost for VAT registered EU companies or Non-EU based companies but it very often is through lack of
     experience.

3.  Companies can reclaim VAT within the EU under 2 different European tax directives:

     8th European Directive - EU businesses recovering VAT from other member states
     13th European Directive - Non-EU businesses recovering VAT from EU member states.

4.  Companies can reclaim VAT on exhibition related expenses such as:

     Trade show costs - stand space, equipment rental, registration, etc
     Hotel accommodation
     Meals
     Car rental and petrol
     Professional fees - interpreter, training

5.  The following countries allow non-resident companies to file for VAT refunds, to varying degrees: Austria, Belgium, Canada,
     Croatia, Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
     Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, 
     Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

6.  You need original receipts to recover VAT - copies, credit card receipts and statements will not be accepted.

7.  It typically takes 6-18 months to receive a refund - it varies from country to country.

8.  Filing deadlines do apply.

     UK:                  EU based companies must file by June 30th for expenses incurred in the UK during the previous calendar
                            year.
                            Non-EU based companies must submit refund applications by December 31 for invoices dated July 1 of the
                            previous year through June 30 of the current year.

     Rest of Europe: June 30th is the deadline for all companies to file expenditures incurred between January 1 and December 31 
                            of the previous calendar year.

9.  Companies can file claims themselves however the time it takes to collate invoices and submit a claim are such that most
     companies now choose to outsource this to a specialist.  The specialist will charge a percentage of the refund as a fee and
     the fee is normally waived in the event of a refund not being issued.  In addition, as you will have gathered by now, the
     complexity of VAT is such that the engagement of an expert is advisable.