Germany extends VAT recovery deadline to 31 Dec 2020 for businesses from Non-EU Member States

Due to the economic consequences of the pandemic, the German Tax Administration (BZSt) extended this year’s application deadline for businesses from Non-EU Member States.

Companies outside the EU can apply for VAT recovery relating to the calendar year 2019 until 31 December 2020. It is important to note that applications have to be submitted electronically as soon as possible on the BZSt portal along with the necessary original invoices.

Additionally, companies need to give a brief statement of why they were unable to meet the first deadline (the original deadline was on 30 June 2020). Reasons for this could be that employees were working from home or had to work reduced hours due to the company's economic situation during the pandemic.

Even if the deadline is approaching soon and not much time is left until the end of December, it can be an opportunity for many companies to improve their liquidity. If you are interested in this topic, read our article "How VAT recovery helps cash flow during the COVID-19 pandemic".

If you are facing difficulties to manage everything on time, we’ll be glad to help you out and execute the entire VAT refund process for you. VAT4U provides the most advanced technology to maximize your VAT recovery. Our local tax experts deliver premium support, so that you get the most out of your cross border VAT.