reclaim VAT parking Germany

Parking in Germany falls under vehicle costs

VAT on parking in Germany can in most cases be included in a refund request, together with other costs related to a business-used vehicle, such as fuel, tolls and maintenance. These costs fall under one of the ten EU cost categories with which refund requests are classified, and parking is normally included there. The requirement is always that the costs were incurred for business purposes: a parking fine during a client visit or a trade fair visit in Germany counts, a parking fine during a private trip does not.

Germany determines, like every other refund country, itself how far the deduction for vehicle-related costs extends. Some countries limit the deduction on certain car costs or impose additional requirements on the receipt or invoice, for example regarding number plate, date or the inclusion of your own business details. For parking specifically, generally less stringent requirements apply than for example for fuel, but whether and to what extent the VAT is actually granted remains subject to the assessment of the German tax authority