A UK VAT registered business is able to recover VAT it incurs in the EU. However, this is not done on the UK VAT return, but rather by a mechanism known as an “13th Directive” claim (Thirteenth Council Directive 86/560/EEC of 17 November 1986).
Via this procedure a UK business reclaims overseas VAT from the tax authority in the country it was incurred. This is different to the Retail Export Scheme.
Source: marcusward.co
