reclaim VAT fuel Germany
Fuel in Germany is eligible for VAT refund
VAT on fuel purchased in Germany for business use falls under the cost categories that can be submitted via the refund portal. Fuel is one of the ten EU cost categories under Directive 2008/9, alongside for example accommodation, tolls and trade fair participation. If you have driven for business purposes in Germany and paid VAT on fuel there, you can therefore in principle have it included in a request that goes via the Dutch Tax Authority to the German tax authority.
Whether and to what extent that VAT is actually granted is determined by Germany itself. Each refund country is namely allowed to apply its own rules regarding which part of a cost category is eligible for deduction
What this is based on
- Tax Administration — Requirements for VAT reclaim request from other EU countries (per country)
- Council Directive 2008/9/EC (VAT refund for taxable persons not established in the Member State)
- European Commission — Taxes in Europe Database (TIC)
Directive 2008/9/EC is available on EUR-Lex and the Tax Administration publishes the Requirements list itself. We provide references for each statement; you do not have to take our word for it.
This is not legal advice. This page provides general information about the regulations that this platform covers. We do not know your situation. If in doubt about your own case, consult a lawyer or the relevant supervisory authority.
Written with AI based on the sources above, checked by a human on 2026-08-18. Is something wrong? Let us know — corrections are prioritized.