Industries Eligible for E.U. VAT Refunds

VAT refunds are available to U.S. companies in many sectors, including:

Medical device and life sciences

Pharmaceuticals and biotech

Engineering and manufacturing

Aerospace and aviation suppliers

Tech and SaaS companies

Film, TV, production and media

Automotive and EV suppliers

Energy, renewables, and utilities

Education and training organisations

Professional services (consulting, legal, marketing)

Food & beverage exporters

Retail, luxury goods, fashion, and apparel brands

What you can Reclaim

Common recoverable categories include:

• Accommodation and transport for business travel

• Trade fairs, exhibitions, and congress participation

• Professional and technical services

• Advertising and marketing costs

• Equipment rental and logistics

Non-recoverable costs vary by country but usually include meals, entertainment, and personal expenses.

Antravia reviews every invoice before submission to ensure it qualifies under local rules.

The 13th Directive - How it works

The 13th Directive (Council Directive 86/560/EEC) allows businesses outside the EU to reclaim VAT incurred within the EU, provided:

• They are not established in the EU.

• The VAT was charged on goods or services used for business purposes.

• The applicant’s home country offers reciprocity to EU businesses.

Applications are made directly to each EU country’s tax authority. Refund deadlines generally fall between June 30 and September 30 of the year following the expense.

Country-by-Country Overview

Antravia manages VAT recovery across multiple countries through a single digital intake.

Germany

• Standard VAT rate: 19%

• Eligible: Hotels (7%), exhibitions, professional services

• Deadline: September 30

• Notes: Documentation must be in German; originals often required

France

• Standard VAT rate: 20%

• Eligible: Trade fairs, hotels (10%), consulting services

• Deadline: June 30

• Notes: Requires local fiscal representative; detailed proof of payment

Italy

• Standard VAT rate: 22%

• Eligible: Exhibitions, conferences, business travel

• Deadline: June 30

• Notes: Reciprocity required

Netherlands

• Standard VAT rate: 21%

• Eligible: Hotels, transport, events, services

• Deadline: June 30

• Notes: English accepted; one of the fastest refund authorities

Spain

• Standard VAT rate: 21%

• Eligible: Trade fairs, business services, accommodation

• Deadline: September 30

• Notes: Reciprocity required

Belgium

• Standard VAT rate: 21%

• Eligible: Exhibitions, professional fees, transport

• Deadline: September 30

• Notes: Requires original invoices

Austria

• Standard VAT rate: 20%

• Eligible: Travel, conferences, consulting

• Deadline: June 30

• Notes: English filings accepted; digital copies allowed

Ireland

• Standard VAT rate: 23%

• Eligible: Hotels, car hire, professional services

• Deadline: June 30

• Notes: Straightforward process; accepts English

Switzerland (non-EU)

• Standard VAT rate: 8.1%

• Eligible: Events, hotels, services

• Deadline: June 30

• Notes: Separate non-EU refund scheme; handled similarly

Typical Eligible Expenses - Services

Travel & Accommodation

Hotels, car hire, local transport, but must relate to business travel

Events & Exhibitions

Trade fairs, congress fees, booth build, but Proof of attendance required

Professional Services

Legal, accounting, consultancy, but VAT must appear on invoice

Marketing & Promotion

Printing, advertising, design, but Supplier must charge VAT

Typical Eligible Expenses - Goods

Eligibility varies by country. Antravia reviews every invoice before submission to ensure compliance.

Machinery, tools and equipment

Tools and equipment purchased abroad, Machinery, components, and industrial parts

Medical devices

Medical devices and trial units. Prototype testing equipment

IT and technical gear

IT and technical gear. Samples, demo units, exhibition materials

Goods exported with proof of shipment

Printing, advertising, design, but Supplier must charge VAT

How Antravia Simplifies your EU VAT Reclaim

Where Travel meets Smart Finance

Eligibility check

Upload sample invoices; Antravia estimates refund potential by region

Antravia prepares compliant forms and coordinates any required fiscal representation

Antravia files on time, liaises with each authority, and monitors claim status

Documentation & filing

Submission & tracking

Funds are remitted directly to your designated account

Refund delivery

Why Choose Antravia

EU VAT specialists familiar with every refund authority in Europe

Filings handled under the 13th Directive

Local representation managed through trusted accounting partners

Transparent pricing, no recovery no fee

Real-time progress tracking and audit-ready documentation

Who can claim?

Travel & hospitality

Hotels, DMCs, agencies attending Conferences

Tech & SaaS

Attending European trade shows (Web Summit, IFA, VivaTech)

Medical & Life Sciences

Conferences, training, equipment demos

Events & Exhibitions

Global expo companies

Professional services & consulting

EU client visits, workshops

Start Your Free Eligibility Check

Ready to find out what your business can reclaim?

Upload a few sample invoices or contact our team to begin your VAT review