Recover Spanish VAT incurred by your business in Spain.

We assist foreign companies recover Spanish VAT incurred on business expenses, events, real estate, purchases of goods and other eligible costs in Spain. Our team manages the full refund process: technical assessment, documentation review, claim preparation, filing, follow-up with the Spanish Tax Agency and response to tax authority queries.

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Foreign companies often incur Spanish VAT without recovering it.

VAT & Green Tax is a Spanish specialist firm focused on VAT. We support non-established businesses that need local VAT expertise in Spain, acting as tax contact or Spanish VAT representative.

International companies frequently incur Spanish VAT when doing business in Spain: attending trade fairs, organising events, booking hotels, renting venues, purchasing goods or toolings, paying local suppliers, investing in real estate or carrying out commercial activities.

However, Spanish VAT recovery is not automatic. The refund procedure depends on whether the company is established in the EU or outside the EU, whether it carries out taxable transactions in Spain, the type of expenses incurred and the supporting documentation available. Mistakes in the procedure can lead to delays, information requests, rejected claims or permanent loss of the right to recover VAT.

Local Spanish VAT expertise for non-established businesses.

VAT & Green Tax provides specialist support to foreign companies seeking to recover Spanish VAT. We do not simply file forms. We review the underlying transactions, identify recoverable amounts, determine the correct refund procedure, prepare the supporting file and manage communications with the Spanish Tax Agency.

Our role is to reduce the administrative burden on your finance team and improve the quality, consistency and defensibility of the VAT refund claim.

Assess, file and defend your Spanish VAT refund claim.

Technical assessment of recoverable Spanish VAT

We review your Spanish invoices, business activities and expense categories to determine which VAT amounts may be recoverable. We assess the nature of the transaction, the correct procedure to recover the input VAT, the formal invoice requirements and any potential restrictions under Spanish VAT rules.

Preparation and filing of the refund claim

We prepare the Spanish VAT refund claim and supporting documentation in line with the applicable procedure. For EU-established businesses, claims are generally submitted through the electronic portal of the Member State of establishment. For non-EU businesses, we analyse the applicable Spanish procedure, reciprocity conditions and representation requirements.

Follow-up with the Spanish Tax Agency

We monitor the claim until resolution and payment. If the Spanish Tax Agency issues requests for information, clarification or additional documentation, we support the response and defend the recoverability of the VAT claimed.

Common situations where foreign companies may recover Spanish VAT.

Trade fairs, exhibitions and business events in Spain

Spanish VAT may be incurred on exhibition stands, venue rental, hotels, catering, transport materials and other event-related costs. This is common for foreign companies attending trade fairs, congresses or industry events in Spain.

Purchases of goods in Spain

Spanish VAT may be charged on purchases of goods, equipment, toolings, samples, promotional materials, machinery or supplies acquired from Spanish suppliers. These amounts should be reviewed to determine whether a refund may be available.

Real estate and property-related VAT

Foreign investors, landlords, tenants or companies involved in Spanish real estate may incur VAT on property-related costs, leases, refurbishments, technical services or operating expenses. Spanish real estate VAT is a technical area that requires careful analysis before filing a refund claim.

Import-related Spanish VAT

In certain cases, foreign companies may incur Spanish import VAT when goods are imported into Spain. Whether this VAT is recoverable depends on the import structure, customs documentation, ownership of the goods and the company’s VAT position in Spain.

Who can recover Spanish VAT?

Spanish VAT recovery may be available to foreign companies that are not established in Spain and that have incurred Spanish VAT for business purposes. The applicable VAT recovery procedure depends mainly on the company’s country of establishment.

EU-established companies

Companies established in another EU Member State may generally request a refund of Spanish VAT through the electronic VAT refund portal of their country of establishment, provided the relevant conditions are met.

Non-EU companies

Companies established outside the European Union may be able to recover Spanish VAT under specific conditions. The process may require additional formalities, reciprocity analysis, certificates, representation and direct interaction with the Spanish Tax Agency.

Companies with Spanish VAT obligations

If the company carries out transactions in Spain that require Spanish VAT registration, the refund may need to be managed through Spanish VAT returns rather than a non-established refund claim. This is why a prior technical review is essential.

Deadlines

Spanish VAT refund deadlines must be monitored carefully.

For EU-established companies, Spanish VAT refund claims are generally subject to the EU deadline of 30 September of the year following the refund period. Missing the deadline may result in the loss of the right to recover Spanish VAT for that period.

For non-EU companies, 30 September of the year following the refund period and procedural rules may apply depending on the applicable Spanish refund route.

An early review allows your company to identify recoverable amounts, correct invoice issues and prepare a stronger refund claim before the deadline.

Our approach

You provide the documentation. We manage the Spanish VAT refund process.

We manage the procedure from start to finish: technical review, documentation analysis, preparation of the claim, filing support, communication with the Spanish Tax Agency, response to requests and follow-up until the refund is paid or the file is closed. The client remains informed at each stage, while avoiding the operational burden of managing the Spanish VAT refund process internally.

Key deliverables

01 Initial review of Spanish VAT invoices.

02 Assessment of recoverable and non-recoverable VAT.

03 Identification of the correct refund VAT procedure.

04 Acting as VAT representative (mandatory for non-EU companies).

05 Documentation checklist.

06 Preparation of the refund file.

07 Filing support.

08 Follow-up with the Spanish Tax Agency.

09 Response to tax authority queries.

10 Final recovery.

Why us

Why work with VAT & Green Tax.

Spanish VAT specialists

We are a Spanish firm focused on VAT. Spanish VAT recovery is part of our core technical practice.

Experience with foreign companies

We regularly support non-established companies that need local Spanish VAT expertise and practical assistance with Spanish tax procedures.

Technical review before filing

Full procedural support

We manage the claim beyond filing, including follow-up, information requests and communications with the Spanish Tax Agency.

Local representation and tax authority liaison

Where required, we can act as local VAT representative in Spain.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Yes, in many cases foreign companies can recover Spanish VAT incurred for business purposes. The applicable procedure depends on whether the company is established in the EU or outside the EU, whether it has Spanish VAT obligations and the nature of the expenses incurred.

EU-established companies generally request a refund of Spanish VAT through the electronic VAT refund portal of their Member State of establishment. The Spanish Tax Agency reviews the claim and may request additional information. At that stage, we normally assist our clients.

In certain cases, yes. Non-EU companies may recover Spanish VAT if the applicable Spanish rules and reciprocity conditions are met. Additional documentation, certificates or representation may be required.

Potentially recoverable VAT may include VAT incurred on business expenses such as trade fairs, events, accommodation, purchases of goods, real estate-related costs or import-related costs. Recoverability depends on Spanish VAT rules and the specific facts of each case.

The general deadline is 30 September of the year following the refund period. Missing the deadline may result in the loss of the right to recover VAT for that period.

Yes, where required or appropriate, we can act as local VAT representative before the Spanish Tax Agency.

We support the full process, including technical review, filing support, follow-up and response to requests from the Spanish Tax Agency. Likewise, any appeal before the Spanish authorities or courts.

We usually need Spanish VAT invoices, company details, country of establishment, description of business activities in Spain, details of any Spanish transactions and information on whether the company is VAT registered in Spain.