VAT Refund Services — Risians Accounting
Risians Accounting provides reliable, end-to-end VAT refund services across the UAE, Saudi Arabia (KSA), We help both businesses and visiting reclaim VAT quickly and compliantly — whether the VAT was charged on business purchases or on personal spending while travelling.
What is a VAT refund?
A VAT refund lets an eligible business or a non-resident recover VAT that was paid on purchases. In simple terms:
- Output tax = VAT charged on a business’s sales.
- Input tax = VAT paid on purchases, expenses or imports.
When input tax exceeds output tax, a business may be entitled to a refund of the excess VAT. Non-resident visitors can also claim refunds for VAT paid on qualifying purchases, subject to local rules and thresholds.
Who can claim a VAT refund?
Businesses
Foreign businesses (or local businesses with excess input VAT) can apply for a refund if they meet the tax authority’s conditions and submit the required documentation.
and other non-residents
Visitors who are not VAT-registered in the country where they made the purchase can claim refunds on goods and services bought for personal use — provided they meet export and timing rules.
Example (UAE): A who spends AED 300 on eligible goods and exports them within 90 days may claim a VAT refund on those purchases. Typically the minimum purchase threshold is AED 250; maximum refundable limits and rules can vary by country.
Typical VAT refund conditions and limits
Although country rules differ, common requirements include:
- Purchaser must be a non-resident (for refunds) or a business with demonstrable input tax in excess of output tax.
- Goods must be exported from the country within a specified period (often 90 days for refunds in the UAE).
- Minimum purchase thresholds often apply (e.g., AED 250 for individual claims in some jurisdictions).
- Some tax authorities impose maximum claim limits per person or per year — for example, the maximum VAT refund may be capped (e.g., AED 35,000 in certain cases).
- Refund entitlement deadlines: in some countries (e.g., UAE) refunds must be requested within a statutory timeframe (commonly up to 5 years from the end of the tax period in which the right to a refund arose).
Two ways to treat excess input VAT (for taxpayers)
How Risians Accounting handles VAT refund claims (our service process)
If a taxpayer has excess input VAT, they generally have two options:
1. Request a refund of the excess balance from the tax authority.
2. Carry forward the excess to future tax periods to offset future VAT liabilities. The taxpayer can also decide to apply for the refund later if preferred.
Risians Accounting will advise which option is most advantageous based on cashflow, audit risk and business strategy.
Documents required to claim a VAT refund
The exact documentation depends on the country and the nature of the refund (vs. business). Typical documents include:
- Original tax invoices showing VAT charged.
- Proof of export (shipping documents, airway bill, export declaration) or boarding.
- Original receipts or credit-card slips.
- Passport or national ID for /non-residents.
- For businesses: trade license, commercial registration documents.
- Bank details for the refund transfer (account name, IBAN/SWIFT as required).
Risians Accounting’s VAT specialists will check your documentation, prepare any missing paperwork, and ensure everything meets the requirements of the local tax authority.
We manage the entire refund process end-to-end to reduce delays and compliance risk:
1. Initial eligibility review — assess whether the purchase/claim qualifies for refund.
2. Document collection & verification — gather invoices, export proofs and identity documents; validate authenticity.
3. Preparation of refund submission — prepare the formal application per the country’s prescribed format.
4. Submission & follow-up — lodge the claim with the tax authority and manage communication and clarifications.
5. Reconciliation & receipt — reconcile the refund once received and transfer funds to your nominated account.
6. Advisory — suggest improvements to accounting processes to capture reclaimable VAT going forward.
Working with Risians Accounting removes the administrative burden and increases the chance of a timely, successful refund.
Country-specific notes — UAE & the GCC
UAE
When filing VAT returns in UAE, if you are due a refund above OMR 100 you can submit a refund request after necessary checks. The tax authority typically decides within 30 days, and if approved the refund is paid within a further 15 days. Smaller amounts (below OMR 100) are often carried forward to future periods but can be claimed later. Importantly, refund requests usually must be made within 5 years from the period in which the right to refund arose.
GCC countries (UAE)
Foreign businesses that incur VAT in GCC VAT-implementing states should carefully assess eligibility, preserve supporting documents and lodge formal refund applications within the statutory timelines. Some tax authorities still refine their guidance, so a conservative approach — preserving evidence and filing timely claims — is recommended. Risians Accounting has regional knowledge and partners across GCC countries to manage cross-border refund claims.
Why choose Risians Accounting?
- Experienced VAT team — expert consultants who understand local rules across the GCC and the UAE.
- End-to-end service — from document collection to submission, follow-up and reconciliations.
- Minimise audit risk — we prepare claims in line with tax authority expectations to reduce questions and delays.
- Secure handling — sensitive documents and client data are stored and processed securely.
- Value-added support — alongside refunds we provide VAT registration, VAT return filing, VAT accounting, VAT audits and deregistration assistance.
Start your VAT refund claim with Risians Accounting
If you have paid VAT that you believe is reclaimable — whether as a business or a visitor — Risians Accounting can assess your eligibility and manage the claim for you. We’ll clarify expected timelines, required documents and refund prospects before any chargeable work begins.
Visit us at https://risiansaccounting.com/ or contact our VAT team at support@risiansaccounting.com to arrange a free preliminary review and get your VAT refund process started.
