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How do I declare and reclaim import VAT?

Once you’re registered for VAT, you can reclaim import VAT you’ve incurred via your VAT return.

To do so, please send us your import data in our Purchase template and add your supporting documents (customs declarations, purchase invoices, documents from your freight forwarder). 

UK Supporting Documents
You will need two supporting documents to reclaim import VAT in the UK: a C79 Declaration and your Postponed VAT Statement.  

The C79 Declarations show you how much import VAT you can reclaim, and the Postponed VAT Statements show how much you have to declare. 

You can download both of these documents from the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). 

EU Supporting Documents
For reclaims in the EU, we need all your import documents. In general, we always need the original customs entries, but depending on the country, carrier and type of import, you may have: 

  • Customs documents
  • Single Administrative Documents (SADs)
  • Invoices indicating you’ve been invoiced for import VAT (if you have an indirect representative) 

      Please upload every document you have relating to the import VAT you wish to reclaim or declare.  

      Canadian Supporting Documents
      If you’re importing into Canada, we’ll need the customs documents to reclaim the GST. 

      Declaring Imports 

      Certain imports are handled and accounted for by an indirect representative. The representative will account for the import into the EU. You won’t have anything to reclaim but you still need to declare the intra-community acquisition. Not declaring these transactions increases the likelihood you’ll get audited – it's one of the main causes.  

      Reclaiming VAT from an invoice is a little more complicated. You can reclaim VAT on goods you purchased in the country where you’re registered via an invoice. VAT on services will depend on the type of service and the country where you purchased them. We’ll let you know if you can reclaim that VAT. Depending on the complexity and quantity of your invoices, we may have to charge you an additional fee for this. 

      If you’re based in an EU country you need to declare purchases you’ve made in another, even if you have no VAT to reclaim.

        In these cases, please provide us with the invoice from your supplier.