Austrian court restores VAT refund rights for Turkish transporters

The Austrian Supreme Administrative Court has overturned a regulation that prevented Turkish transportation companies from receiving Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds on fuel purchases made within Austria. The ruling follows a legal challenge initiated in 2021 by the International Association of Road Transport Companies (UND), which argued that the regulation violated international agreements.

The decision, dated June 30, 2026, applies to both future transactions and past claims. Specifically, Turkish transport companies that had their VAT refund applications rejected between January 14, 2021, and June 30, 2026, are now permitted to re-apply for those funds. The removal of this legal barrier allows companies to reclaim taxes paid on fuel during that five-year period.