Question 1

What is VAT?

Accepted Answer

VAT (Value Added Tax) is applied to goods and services at each stage of production and distribution. While private consumers cover this tax with every purchase, businesses are eligible to recover VAT paid abroad if specific conditions are met.

Question 2

Who can refund VAT from EU countries?

Accepted Answer

VAT recovery from abroad is a procedure that can be performed by businesses operating in EU countries, whose main form of activity is the transportation of goods. Lithuanian-registered transport companies involved in cargo transportation can reclaim VAT paid abroad. No prior experience or tax expertise? No problem – we handle the whole process for you, fast and hassle-free.

Question 3

How long does a VAT refund take?

Accepted Answer

The duration of a VAT refund depends on the legal framework of each country and can range from one month to over six months. Refunds from EU member states are often processed more quickly. However, with our fast VAT refund service, we can ensure that the money reaches your account within just 2 business days after submitting the required documents.

Question 4

From which countries can transport companies recover VAT on tolls and diesel fuel?

Accepted Answer

Below is the list of countries from which VAT can be refunded: Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, United Kingdom, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Spain, Cyprus, Croatia, Latvia, Poland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, France, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Germany.

Question 5

What is the penalty for not paying tolls?

Accepted Answer

Across Europe, using toll roads requires payment, which is especially important for truck drivers – tolls are far less expensive than potential fines. The amount of the fine depends on each country’s tax and legal system and can range from several dozen to several hundred euros for a first offence. A fine for tolls may also be issued if the payment is calculated incorrectly – for example, if the wrong vehicle data is provided (Euro emission class, category), weight, or distance travelled. Traffic enforcement authorities across Europe work closely together and exchange information, making it impossible to avoid penalties. Therefore, it is recommended to pay tolls and later recover the VAT paid on them.

Question 6

How to check if a toll is valid?

Accepted Answer

The validity of a toll can be checked in two ways. If you purchase toll vignettes from major companies or our partners, you can usually check their validity on their websites. By entering the vignette details, you will see its validity period, with the expiry date shown next to the status. Additional information such as countries, roads, and time period will also be displayed. Another way to check a toll is by using the official toll website of the specific country. To recover VAT on tolls paid abroad, proper document management is essential – when paying for tolls, be sure to collect invoices, receipts, or cheques that include your company details. If you have not yet dealt with tax refunds for transport companies, contact us for a free consultation. Our professional team is ready to advise on VAT and partial excise duty recovery for companies providing either cargo or passenger transport services and incurring transportation-related costs abroad.

Question 7

How to get more information about toll tax refunds?

Accepted Answer

Reach out to the Edenred Finance team of professionals. We have more than 180 employees across Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary who will help you efficiently recover taxes paid abroad. We communicate in multiple foreign languages, ensuring clear answers to all questions related to VAT and excise duty recovery. We will help you recover all taxes you are entitled to, provide expert consultations, and save you valuable time. If needed, you can also take advantage of our fast VAT refund service and have the money back within 2 business days after submitting the required documents.

Question 8

Is it legal to recover VAT on tolls?

Accepted Answer

Yes, recovering VAT on tolls is legal if your company’s main activity involves heavy transport (cargo, parcel, or passenger transportation) and the expenses are directly related to the company’s core operations. It is also required that you do not have any branches in the countries from which you intend to recover VAT.

Question 9

Annual tolls: what documents are required to recover VAT?

Accepted Answer

To successfully recover VAT on tolls paid in European countries, it is essential that the invoices confirming your payments include all company details: full company name, VAT number, and registered address. Receipts must show the seller’s VAT number, name, address, and the VAT amount separately. If you have any questions, contact the Edenred Finance professional team and we will provide you with all the information on the specific requirements applied in each country.

Question 10

When will the toll VAT be refunded?

Accepted Answer

Please note that, when submitting the required documents correctly, transport companies can recover not the full toll amount, but the VAT paid on it. The refund timeline depends on the tax and legal framework of the country from which VAT is being recovered. Typically, VAT refunds for tolls take from 1 to 6 months, but the process may take longer if recovering from non-EU countries. If you urgently need working capital, take advantage of our unique fast VAT refund service. Once all required documents are submitted, the VAT paid on tolls can be refunded within 2 business days.

Question 11

How to recover VAT on tolls?

Accepted Answer

Business entities operating in Lithuania whose main activity is transportation of goods are eligible to recover VAT paid abroad. If you lack the necessary experience or legal knowledge, we are ready to help – entrust your VAT recovery to us.

Question 12

What is the amount of tolls you will need to pay?

Accepted Answer

Toll rates can be checked on the official websites of each country as well as on the websites of specialised toll service providers. The toll amount usually depends on the vehicle’s weight, number of axles, kilometres driven, and, in some countries, the number of days spent on the roads, applicable emission charges, and other factors. In certain cases, it may even depend on the vehicle’s category and class, so when planning to expand your fleet, it is worth considering these nuances. Information on which roads require toll payment in a particular country can be easily found online.

Question 13

Who is required to pay tolls?

Accepted Answer

In general, any company operating a vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tons is required to pay tolls. In many European countries, light commercial vehicles (passenger cars, motorcycles, smaller vans, etc.) are also subject to toll charges. Certain road sections, overpasses, bridges, ferries, and similar infrastructure may also be tolled. Most often, payment is required for motorways and expressways that provide the fastest routes to the destination.

Question 14

Is it possible to recover part of the toll costs?

Accepted Answer

When providing passenger or cargo transport services, tolls are an unavoidable expense. In the past, tolls were usually paid on-site, but today, cargo and passenger transport companies most often pay them online. This often helps avoid queues, reduce downtime, and simplify accounting. It is important to note that you can recover part of the toll costs. If your main business activity is cargo or passenger transportation, you should collect all invoices and receipts with your company details. When the documents are submitted correctly, you may be eligible to recover the VAT.

Question 15

Where can all the latest information about application status be found?

Accepted Answer

We invite you to register on the Edenred Finance self-service portal, where you can view all invoices and up-to-date information about your application status, VAT and excise duty amounts being refunded/refunded, and other useful information. To register, click this link: https://client-finance.edenred.com/#/register&nbsp;Enter your company code.Enter your chosen password twice.You will receive registration confirmation by email. Note: For the best experience using the client self-service portal, we recommend the Google Chrome browser.

Question 16

Can contracts be signed electronically?

Accepted Answer

Contracts submitted to excise duty authorities must be signed and stamped. If contracts are signed electronically, a “Validity Confirmation Sheet” must be attached.

Question 17

What is a “Validity Confirmation Sheet” and why is it needed?

Accepted Answer

A “Validity Confirmation Sheet” is a form that confirms the validity of a document. In accordance with excise duty authority requirements, this form must be provided by the client if the contract is signed electronically.

Question 18

Can the fee for Edenred Finance services be deducted from the VAT/excise duty refund amount?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the fee can be deducted from the refunded VAT amount. This option is not available when submitting an application solely for excise duty refund.

Question 19

What should be known about the fast VAT refund service?

Accepted Answer

The fast VAT refund service is available only when submitting invoices for diesel fuel and tolls that include the complete details of both parties. This service does not apply to VAT refunds for vehicle repairs, spare parts, or other expenses. To recover VAT on these costs, we recommend choosing the standard VAT refund service.

Question 20

For what period can VAT be refunded?

Accepted Answer

VAT refunds can be processed for a period of no longer than one calendar year and no shorter than three consecutive calendar months within the same year.

Question 21

What is the VAT refund application deadline?

Accepted Answer

Applications for VAT refunds for the previous calendar year can be submitted until September, 30 of the following year. For example, an application for a VAT refund for 2024 can be submitted until September 30, 2025. Exceptions may apply – for more information, please contact the Edenred Finance team at sales@finance.edenred.com.

FAQ