Czech Businesses Can Reclaim VAT Paid Abroad
Czech entrepreneurs who purchased goods or services in another European Union country during 2025 may be entitled to reclaim the foreign VAT they paid. The possibility commonly applies to business expenses such as fuel, road tolls, accommodation, vehicle rental and entrance fees to trade fairs.
However, the rules are not identical across the European Union. Each member state determines which types of expenses are eligible for a VAT refund. Businesses should therefore verify whether their costs meet the conditions applied by the country in which the VAT was paid.
Foreign VAT Refund Deadline Is 30 September 2026
The deadline for requesting a foreign VAT refund for 2025 is 30 September 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted, meaning that businesses that miss the deadline will lose the opportunity to recover the VAT.
The application must be submitted electronically through the Czech Financial Administration portal. Entrepreneurs should begin preparing their requests well in advance, rather than waiting until the final days of September.
Necessary preparations include collecting the relevant tax documents, reviewing eligible expenses and ensuring that access to the Financial Administration’s application system is active.
Portal Access May Take Up to 15 Days
Access to the electronic application is an important part of the process. According to the information provided, the tax office may take up to 15 days to activate access after receiving the request.
A business that applies for access too late may therefore be unable to submit its foreign VAT refund application before the September deadline. Entrepreneurs who have not yet activated the required access should address this step as soon as possible.
VAT Refunds Are Also Available to Foreign Businesses
VAT-registered businesses from other European Union countries may also apply for a refund of Czech VAT paid during 2025, provided they satisfy the relevant legal conditions.
Preparing a VAT refund request involves more than submitting an electronic form. The process may include checking invoices and other tax documents, assessing whether the expenses qualify and communicating with foreign tax authorities.
For this reason, many businesses use tax advisors to review their entitlement, prepare and submit the application, and manage further communication with the relevant authorities. Starting early can reduce administrative risks and help ensure that the foreign VAT refund deadline of 30 September 2026 is not missed.
