{"id":70493,"date":"2022-10-24T12:02:36","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T10:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.hellotax.com\/blog\/?p=70493"},"modified":"2025-09-23T15:50:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T13:50:41","slug":"vat-registration-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/vat-registration-times\/","title":{"rendered":"How long does a VAT registration take?: VAT registration times"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>There are differing processing times for VAT registration, depending on the country. It can vary between 4 and 12 weeks, depending on the country and whether the business is EU or non-EU based.\u00a0Please read this article for more info on the VAT registration times.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f <em data-start=\"284\" data-end=\"406\">Update July 2025: Processing times have been streamlined in some countries. See the table below for the latest guidance.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" class=\"wp-image-68861\" src=\"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rechnungsdatum-1024x536.jpeg\" alt=\"calendar computer work place\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rechnungsdatum-1024x536.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rechnungsdatum-300x157.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rechnungsdatum-768x402.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/rechnungsdatum.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Once you have signed up for the <a href=\"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/?utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_campaign=9937042056\">hellotax<\/a> services and you wish to get VAT registered in a specific country, our registration assistant will inform you what documents are required from you. The <strong>first steps<\/strong> will look as follows:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li>You will be invited to a <strong>Welcome call<\/strong> with your personal Account Manager and your Registration Assistant, to go through the working procedures at hellotax and through the registration process.<\/li>\r\n<li>You will receive an email with the <strong>documents needed for your VAT registration<\/strong> with the Tax authorities. (If you need time to collect the necessary documents, your Registration Assistant will send you scheduled reminders and will be supporting you throughout the whole process.)\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The documents can differ from country to country, but a <strong>basic set of required documents<\/strong> consists of the following:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li>Passport copies (passport must be valid)<\/li>\r\n<li>Official Company registration certificate (must be issued within the last 6 months)<\/li>\r\n<li>Official Company certificate confirming the current company directors (must be issued within the last 6 months)<\/li>\r\n<li>Company headed paper sample\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<li>Business register extract confirming your company&#8217;s validity<\/li>\r\n<li>Dependant upon company genre: Certificate of Incorporation \/ Article of Association<\/li>\r\n<li>Dependant upon company genre: Company House Certificate\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li>After you have provided all the required documents for the VAT registration, our tax accountants will check the information. If everything is present and correct, your <strong>registration application and Letters of Authority<\/strong> (LOA\u2019s) will be prepared. The LOA needs to be signed by you in order for us to be able to process the registration and, later on, the VAT filings for you.<\/li>\r\n<li>Depending on the country, either hellotax or you will <strong>send the documents to the Tax Authorities<\/strong>. Your registration assistant will advise you at that time.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<li>VAT registration processing times vary by country, as mentioned previously. As this is completely dependent on the Tax authorities and their internal processes, we can&#8217;t guarantee any exact dates or processing times. However, we have tried to give you an <strong>approximate idea of the processing time<\/strong> in each country:<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<div style=\"overflow-x: auto;\"><table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Country<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td><strong>Approx. processing time<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Austria<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 8 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Czech Republic<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 8 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>France<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 12 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Germany\u00a0<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 8 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Italy<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 4 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Netherlands<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 8 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Poland<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 8 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Spain<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 12 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Slovakia<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 8 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Sweden<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 4 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>United Kingdom<\/td>\r\n<td>up to 8 weeks<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<p><strong>Please note: the processing times above apply to EU-based clients. For non-EU businesses, timelines may be longer due to additional checks by local tax authorities.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"cta-shortcode cta-shortcode-normal \"><div class=\"cta-image\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Samer.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"cta-content\"><h3 class=\"font600\">Book a free consultation<\/h3><p>Our VAT experts are happy to help you. Book a free consultation today!<\/p>\n<div class=\"button-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/contact-us?button=blog\" class=\"button button-secondary uppercase\">Free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n<p>The registration assistant will <strong>keep you up to date<\/strong> with your registration progress.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Looking for more information about our services, or not sure if you need VAT registration? Get all the information you need by <a href=\"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/contact-us?button=header\">contacting our dedicated sales team<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n<h2 data-start=\"912\" data-end=\"960\">What factors can delay your VAT registration?<\/h2>\r\n<p data-start=\"962\" data-end=\"1102\">While typical VAT registration times vary by country, there are several common reasons why your application might take longer than expected:<\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"1104\" data-end=\"2016\">\r\n<li data-start=\"1104\" data-end=\"1314\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1106\" data-end=\"1314\"><strong data-start=\"1106\" data-end=\"1143\">Incomplete or outdated documents:<\/strong> Many tax authorities require recent official documents (often issued within the last 3 to 6 months). Expired company extracts or VAT certificates frequently cause delays.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1561\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1561\"><strong data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1351\">Additional compliance checks:<\/strong> Especially for non-EU companies, local tax offices may perform more extensive due diligence to prevent VAT fraud. This can include verifying directors, beneficial owners, or even requesting business contracts.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li data-start=\"1563\" data-end=\"1776\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1565\" data-end=\"1776\"><strong data-start=\"1565\" data-end=\"1617\">Waiting for confirmation from other tax offices:<\/strong> Some countries check your existing EU VAT registrations through VIES or directly contact your home country\u2019s tax authority, adding extra weeks to the process.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li data-start=\"1778\" data-end=\"2016\">\r\n<p data-start=\"1780\" data-end=\"2016\"><strong data-start=\"1780\" data-end=\"1819\">Translation or notarization issues:<\/strong> In many EU countries, key documents must be translated by a sworn translator and certified by a notary. Missing or improperly certified translations are a common reason applications are sent back.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p data-start=\"2018\" data-end=\"2172\">That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial to <strong data-start=\"2045\" data-end=\"2108\">work with an experienced VAT service provider like hellotax<\/strong>, who ensures all documents meet local standards from the start.<\/p>\r\n<hr data-start=\"2174\" data-end=\"2177\" \/>\r\n<h2 data-start=\"2179\" data-end=\"2242\">Why do processing times differ so much between EU countries?<\/h2>\r\n<p data-start=\"2244\" data-end=\"2378\">Each EU member state has its own tax administration, with varying workloads, anti-fraud systems, and internal procedures. For example:<\/p>\r\n<ul data-start=\"2380\" data-end=\"2755\">\r\n<li data-start=\"2380\" data-end=\"2494\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2382\" data-end=\"2494\"><strong data-start=\"2382\" data-end=\"2428\">France and Spain often\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><strong>take up to 3 months<\/strong>, partly due to deeper<\/span>\u00a0verification of non-established businesses.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li data-start=\"2495\" data-end=\"2637\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2497\" data-end=\"2637\"><strong data-start=\"2497\" data-end=\"2528\">Germany can take up to 8 weeks<\/strong><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">, because local tax offices (Finanz\u00e4mter) handle registrations individually, which can result in varying<\/span>\u00a0speeds.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li data-start=\"2638\" data-end=\"2755\">\r\n<p data-start=\"2640\" data-end=\"2755\"><strong data-start=\"2640\" data-end=\"2700\">Austria and Poland typically process applications\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><strong>withi<\/strong>n 2 months, assuming the <\/span>paperwork is complete.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<hr data-start=\"2757\" data-end=\"2760\" \/>\r\n<h2 data-start=\"2762\" data-end=\"2812\">Can I start selling before I get my VAT number?<\/h2>\r\n<p data-start=\"2814\" data-end=\"3125\">Technically, you can begin selling, but you may not be able to <strong data-start=\"2877\" data-end=\"2933\">issue VAT-compliant invoices or charge VAT correctly<\/strong> until your VAT number is granted. This could lead to complications, corrective invoices, or retrospective tax payments. Always discuss this with your VAT consultant to avoid compliance risks.<\/p>\r\n<hr data-start=\"3127\" data-end=\"3130\" \/>\r\n<h2 data-start=\"3132\" data-end=\"3178\">Stay updated: EU VAT compliance is evolving<\/h2>\r\n<p data-start=\"3180\" data-end=\"3475\">As of <strong data-start=\"3186\" data-end=\"3199\">June 2025<\/strong>, the EU continues to prioritize fighting VAT fraud with tighter cross-border data checks. This means registration processes across Europe remain rigorous. Keeping all your company registrations, VAT certificates, and director documents up to date is more important than ever.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"3482\" data-end=\"3697\"><br \/>\ud83d\udc49 Want to avoid delays, fines, or rejections? Let <a href=\"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/\"><strong data-start=\"3555\" data-end=\"3567\">hellotax<\/strong><\/a> handle your VAT registrations, filings, and communication with European tax authorities.<br data-start=\"3656\" data-end=\"3659\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/contact-us?button=blog\"><strong data-start=\"3659\" data-end=\"3697\">Book your free consultation today!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are differing processing times for VAT registration, depending on the country. It can vary between 4 and 12 weeks, depending on the country and whether the business is EU or non-EU based.\u00a0Please read this article for more info on the VAT registration times. \u26a0\ufe0f Update July 2025: Processing times have been streamlined in some [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":68861,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5584],"tags":[5766,6262,5959,6260,6258],"class_list":{"0":"post-70493","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-vat-registration","8":"tag-eu-vat-compliance","9":"tag-get-vat-number","10":"tag-vat-filing-deadlines","11":"tag-vat-number-eu","12":"tag-vat-registration-process","13":"entry"},"acf":[],"modified_by":"Brenda Varela","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70493"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70493\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}