VAT Refund in France
Recover part of your business expenses through a French VAT refund
Planning a business trip, trade fair or event in France or recently attended one? You may be entitled to recover VAT! VAT refunds can represent substantial amounts, particularly for companies participating in major trade shows or organizing professional events.
FACC California assists American companies in navigating the French VAT refund procedure, ensuring compliance, minimizing delays, and securing reimbursement efficiently. We manage the process on your behalf from eligibility review to submission and follow-up with the French tax authorities.
Why work with the French Chamber of Commerce?
Recovering VAT in France can be complex. The procedure is technical, documentation requirements are strict, and not all foreign companies are able to file directly on their own.
That’s where we come in. We handle the entire process on your behalf from eligibility review to submission and follow-up with the French tax authorities.
What this means for you:
- Less risk of rejection : We ensure your file is complete, compliant, and correctly presented before submission.
- Less time spent internally : No need to navigate French administrative procedures or dedicate internal resources to managing the claim.
- No financial immobilization during the process : You do not need to advance funds or tie up cash while the claim is being handled.
- Peace of mind : We monitor the process, respond to potential requests from the authorities, and keep you informed until reimbursement is received.
We make VAT recovery straightforward, secure, and efficient so you can focus on your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
This service is available to all companies registered outside of France that have incurred expenses while operating or conducting business activities in France.
VAT is refundable for these following expenditures:
- Trade fairs, exhibitions, conferences and seminars
- Events: hire of stands, rooms, hire or purchase of furniture, decoration, flowers, hostesses, interpreters, telephone, electricity, transport of goods or machinery, etc.
- Restaurants, caterers (food and drinks)
- Diesel (80% of VAT is recoverable)
- Rental of furniture
- Rental of commercial vehicles
- Intangible services: advertising, legal services, IT
VAT is not refundable for the following expenses: hotels, car rental (tourism), air, train or taxi fares or the purchase of gifts.
To initiate the process, we will only need:
- Original invoices showing the refundable amount of French VAT (Copies, even certified, will not be accepted!)
- A signed mandate form in French authorizing us to manage the process on your behalf
- A bank routing number enabling us to wire the VAT refund
- Documents certifying that you are a foreign company (ex: Kbis extract)
Once the complete file is submitted to the French tax authorities, reimbursement is generally processed within 1 to 3 months. Processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the file and the tax administration workload.
Yes. The French Administration must receive all the required documents duly completed by at the latest 30th of June following the issuance date of invoices. For example, expenses incurred in 2025 must be submitted by 30 June 2026.
We currently process all applications with claimable VAT invoices.
No. Our VAT refund service is available to all businesses registered outside of France with eligible expenses in France.
Under certain conditions, VAT refunds may also be available for expenses incurred in other European countries.
Eligibility depends on national regulations and bilateral agreements. Please contact us to assess your situation.
Start Your VAT Refund Process
Recovering VAT is often simpler and more profitable than companies expect.
Contact us to review your expenses and launch your refund procedure. Our team will assess your eligibility and guide you through the next steps.