Missed our live session? No problem. The full recording is now available to watch on demand.
On 2 April 2026, Leyton’s VAT experts explored one of the most underestimated risks facing growing businesses, international VAT compliance. Watch the replay to understand the hidden pitfalls of cross-border expansion and how to stay ahead of them.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why international VAT rules are more complex than most businesses expect
- The most common mistakes companies make when expanding across borders
- Why manual processes and poor internal communication put you at risk
- How to structure your VAT compliance framework for sustainable growth
Key Takeaways from session:
- International VAT rules vary significantly by country, don’t assume harmonisation
- VAT is frequently deprioritised during growth, increasing risk and cost
- Manual processes and poor internal communication are leading causes of VAT errors
- Unstructured expansion – not expansion itself – is the real risk
- Early investment in VAT expertise is the most effective mitigation strategy
Q&A Highlights:
Do VAT submission requirements differ across countries?
Yes, some countries like Spain require detailed transaction breakdowns, while others such as Ireland, France and Germany typically accept aggregated totals.
Do tax authorities require transaction-level data?
In some cases, yes. Authorities may request a full breakdown of sales and purchases and supporting invoices if anything appears unusual.
How should businesses handle VAT across multiple countries?
Centralising processes or working with a single point of contact can significantly reduce the complexity of managing multiple registrations, deadlines and filing requirements.
How can businesses reduce VAT complexity when expanding internationally?
By taking a strategic approach to supply chain and operations, businesses can structure transactions to simplify compliance and sometimes avoid unnecessary registrations altogether.
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