ReclaimVAT

How It Works

A detailed breakdown of the entire process from uploading invoices to receiving your refund. Most claims take 6-8 weeks total, with just 10 minutes of your time.

The Timeline

From submission to refund: 6-8 weeks total

You Upload Your Documents

10-15 minutes

We Process Your Claim

24-48 hours

HMRC Reviews Your Claim

4-6 weeks (typical)

You Get Your Refund

3-5 business days
PHASE 1

You Upload Your Documents

10-15 minutes

Quick and simple document submission through our secure portal

Gather Your VAT Invoices

Collect invoices for goods (up to 4 years before VAT registration) and services (up to 6 months before). These can be PDFs, photos, or scans.

Company Information

Your VAT registration number, VAT registration date, company details, and business bank account information.

Upload Everything

Drag and drop all documents into our secure portal. We accept all common file formats. Missing some invoices? No problem - claim what you have.

What You Need

  • VAT invoices/receipts showing VAT charged
  • Your VAT registration certificate (or just the date)
  • Company details (name, number, address)
  • Business bank account details for refund

Tips & Things to Know

  • Don't worry about perfect documentation - we can work with photos
  • Can't find all invoices? Claim what you have - partial claims are fine
  • Suppliers can often provide duplicate invoices if you ask
PHASE 2

We Process Your Claim

24-48 hours

Our team reviews, validates, and prepares your HMRC submission

Invoice Validation

We review each invoice to ensure it meets HMRC requirements: valid VAT number, correct date range, proper VAT calculation.

Eligibility Check

We verify goods are still owned/used, services relate to your business, and everything falls within the eligible date ranges.

VAT427 Form Preparation

We complete form VAT427 (pre-registration VAT reclaim) with all supporting documentation and calculations.

Quality Review

A second team member reviews everything to catch any issues before submission. We aim for 95%+ approval rate.

What Happens

  • We extract data from your invoices (dates, amounts, VAT)
  • Calculate total eligible VAT reclaim
  • Prepare detailed breakdown for HMRC
  • Complete form VAT427 with supporting schedules
  • Send you a preview before submitting

Tips & Things to Know

  • You'll get an email preview before we submit to HMRC
  • We may contact you if we need clarification on any invoices
  • Average claim we process is £3,200
PHASE 3

HMRC Reviews Your Claim

4-6 weeks (typical)

HMRC processes your claim and may request additional information

HMRC Receives Claim

Your claim enters HMRC's queue. They aim to process VAT reclaims within 30 days, though complex cases can take longer.

Potential Queries

HMRC may request additional documentation (proof of ownership, business use, etc.). We handle all correspondence on your behalf.

Verification Process

HMRC verifies your VAT registration, checks invoices are valid, and ensures goods/services meet eligibility criteria.

Decision Made

HMRC approves (full or partial), requests more info, or rejects. We'll notify you immediately of the outcome.

What Happens

  • HMRC assigns a case officer
  • They review all documentation and calculations
  • May contact us for clarification or additional proof
  • Verification can take 4-6 weeks on average
  • You'll get updates from us throughout

Tips & Things to Know

  • We handle all HMRC communication - you don't need to do anything
  • Most claims are approved without queries
  • If HMRC requests more info, we'll gather it and respond within 5 days

Common HMRC Queries & Our Responses

Proof of ownership/use
Photos, asset register, or statutory declaration
Business purpose
Explanation of how goods/services relate to your business
Invoice clarification
Original invoice from supplier, confirmation letter
PHASE 4

You Get Your Refund

3-5 business days

HMRC pays you directly, and we invoice our success fee

HMRC Pays You

Once approved, HMRC transfers the VAT refund directly to your business bank account within 3-5 working days.

We Invoice Our Fee

We send you an invoice for 30% + VAT of the reclaimed amount. You only pay if you got paid.

Claim Complete

That's it! You've reclaimed VAT you didn't know you were owed, and it only took 10 minutes of your time.

What Happens

  • HMRC processes payment to your bank account
  • You receive full refund amount (we don't take our fee from it)
  • We send you an invoice for our 30% + VAT success fee
  • You pay us once you've received the refund
  • Typical total time: 6-8 weeks from submission

Tips & Things to Know

  • You receive the full refund from HMRC - we invoice separately
  • Our fee is only charged if HMRC approves your claim
  • If partially approved, we only charge on the approved amount

Example Breakdown

HMRC Refunds You:£2,400
Our Fee (30%):£720
VAT on Fee (20%):£144
You Pay Us:£864
You Keep:£1,536

Ready to Get Started?

Calculate your potential refund now, or contact us if you have questions about your specific situation.