VAT IT
VAT IT is a global indirect tax technology and services firm that helps multinational businesses recover foreign VAT and manage compliance and e-invoicing across 70+ countries via its Cloud, Abacus, and eezi platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What VAT IT does
VAT IT is a privately held global indirect tax technology and services company headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, founded in 2002 and operating with 501-1000 employees across 70+ countries. The company specializes in identifying, researching, and recovering foreign VAT for multinational businesses, while also providing ongoing VAT/GST compliance and global e-invoicing solutions. It serves enterprise and mid-market customers across 26 industries including aerospace and defence, aviation, automotive, pharmaceutical, conferences and events, business services, technology, and retail, with named clients such as Embraer, ExecuJet, Amazon/MGM Studios, Yamato Transport, Access Industries, Adecco Group, Hi Fly, Byondis, and Victoria Beckham.
The company's technology stack is built around three proprietary platforms: Cloud (AI-driven VAT recovery with invoice analysis and live-pull API integrations), Abacus (indirect tax compliance with automated filings, registrations, and real-time dashboards), and eezi (global e-invoicing across 80+ jurisdictions with AI-driven error handling, translation, and currency conversion). A US Sales Tax engine processes 10 million+ calculations per month across 14,000+ jurisdictions. Distribution is delivered through direct enterprise sales and a 70+ technology partner ecosystem (SAP Concur, Expensify, Ramp, Xero, NetSuite, Oracle, Brex, Navan) plus consulting alliances with KPMG, Grant Thornton, and DLA Piper. Recent inorganic moves include the acquisition of French indirect tax specialist Tevea RF Consulting and sequenced integrations with Expensify and Ramp.
VAT IT's business model combines three revenue streams: success-based transaction fees on VAT recovery with no upfront costs (aligning pricing to customer outcomes), subscription-based managed compliance services (registrations, filings, reporting across 70+ countries), and subscription or usage-based e-invoicing and US sales tax platform fees. The company is led by CEO Lourens Van Pletzen with CTO Daniel Ginsburg and CFO Marco Matteucci, and operates regional hubs including a Paris office through the Tevea sub-brand acquired in 2026.
VAT IT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VAT IT
- Legal name
- VAT IT
- Website
- https://vatit.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- VAT IT is a global indirect tax technology and services firm that helps multinational businesses recover foreign VAT and manage compliance and e-invoicing across 70+ countries via its Cloud, Abacus, and eezi platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VAT IT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indirect Tax Compliance
- NAICS
- Business Support Services (5614), Administrative and Support Services (561)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Indirect Tax (VAT/GST/Sales & Use) Services (BPAHABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- VAT/GST Tax Recovery & Receipt Compliance (THACADAF), Expense, Invoice & Reconciliation (ERP/AP) for Travel (THALAMAC)
Keywords
Where VAT IT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
VAT IT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- VAT Reclaim Services: Fees charged on successful VAT recovery - no upfront costs with fees only on successful recovery. Services include foreign VAT refunds, domestic VAT recovery, and foreign VAT registrations.
- VAT Compliance Services: Managed services for VAT registrations, filings, and ongoing compliance across 70+ countries. Offered as managed service, SaaS platform, or hybrid model.
- E-Invoicing Solutions (eezi): Subscription-based or usage-based e-invoicing compliance platform supporting 80+ jurisdictions with enterprise-grade API capabilities.
- US Sales Tax Compliance: Automation services for nexus monitoring, tax calculation, and multi-state filing across over 14,000 US jurisdictions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Success-based VAT Reclaim |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
VAT IT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VAT IT identifies, researches, and recovers foreign VAT on behalf of businesses, providing end-to-end VAT reclaim and indirect tax compliance services across 70+ countries. The company complements its managed services with three proprietary technology platforms—Cloud (VAT recovery), Abacus (indirect tax compliance), and eezi (global e-invoicing)—that use AI-driven analysis and API integrations to automate invoice processing, flag non-compliant items, and manage filings across multiple jurisdictions.
Product overview
VAT IT offers a platform-plus-modules architecture with three core technology products: Cloud (VAT recovery platform), Abacus (indirect tax compliance platform), and eezi (e-invoicing platform). These platforms are complemented by specialized reclaim services (foreign VAT, domestic VAT, foreign VAT registrations), global compliance solutions (VAT & GST, US Sales Tax), and France-specific services through the acquired Tevea sub-brand. The portfolio serves businesses across 26 industries, supporting VAT operations in 70+ countries with a combination of proprietary AI-driven automation and expert human oversight.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- eezi: An all-in-one e-invoicing platform built for real-time reporting, automation and scale. Simplifies global e-invoicing compliance with automatic currency conversion, document translation, and format standardization.
- Cloud
- Abacus
- Tevea RF Consulting
Products and services
- Cloud All-in-one VAT recovery platform that centralizes invoice and expense data, uses AI to identify recovery opportunities, automates claim submissions across jurisdictions, and provides real-time dashboards for tracking claim progress and VAT leakage.
- Abacus Indirect tax compliance platform that simplifies global VAT compliance, supporting registrations, filings, and reporting across multiple jurisdictions with automated submissions and real-time compliance dashboards.
- eezi Global e-invoicing platform that automates invoice creation, validation, translation, and submission across 80+ jurisdictions with real-time reporting to tax authorities, AI-driven error handling, and flexible integration options.
- Foreign VAT Reclaim Service enabling VAT-registered businesses to recover VAT paid on international expenses in countries across Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East.
- Domestic VAT Reclaim Service helping businesses recover local VAT on travel, entertainment, and supplier invoices through input VAT returns with transaction review and error-free reporting.
- Foreign VAT Registrations Expert guidance for non-resident companies to register for VAT abroad in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, enabling reclaim of additional VAT on international expenses.
- Global VAT & GST Compliance Compliance solutions supporting VAT registrations, filings, and reporting across multiple jurisdictions including digital services VAT, incorporation services, and VAT consultancy.
- US Sales Tax Multi-state sales tax compliance automation including nexus monitoring, real-time tax calculation via API, filing preparation and submission, and management of exemption certificates across 14,000+ jurisdictions.
- Tevea by VAT IT Specialized VAT reclaim, compliance, advisory, operational consultancy, and customs services in France, founded in 1984, providing trusted fiscal representation with French tax authorities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10 million sales tax calculations processed every month
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use VAT IT
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
VAT IT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability8 records
Feature6 records
VAT IT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ExpensifycoreIntegration partnership enabling Expensify customers to automatically sync eligible expense data with VAT IT's platform for streamlined VAT recovery. The collaboration helps customers identify VAT recovery opportunities, streamline international tax workflows, and supports future opportunities for embedded and white-label solutions. Particularly focuses on Europe and Canada.
- RampcoreIntegration partnership enabling automatic VAT recovery across 60+ countries from Ramp spend data. The partnership connects VAT IT with Ramp's expense management platform to turn existing expense data into recoverable VAT with no upfront costs.
- SAP ConcurcoreTechnology integration partner enabling VAT IT services to be accessed through SAP Concur's expense management platform, supporting automatic VAT identification and recovery from expense data.
- SAPcoreEnterprise integration partnership with SAP for VAT compliance and reclaim services within SAP's ecosystem.
- XerocoreIntegration with Xero's accounting platform enabling VAT reclaim and compliance services for Xero customers.
- NetSuitecoreIntegration with Oracle NetSuite for automated VAT compliance and reclaim workflows within the ERP system.
- KPMGminorConsulting partnership with KPMG for implementation and advisory services related to VAT compliance.
- Grant ThorntonminorPartnership with Grant Thornton for VAT compliance advisory and implementation services.
- DLA PiperminorPartnership with international law firm DLA Piper for VAT legal advisory services.
- Thomson ReutersminorMarketing and content partnership for thought leadership and industry insights.
- Tevea RF ConsultingcoreAcquisition of Tevea RF Consulting, a leading French indirect tax firm with 40-year legacy since 1984. Based in Paris at 15 Boulevard Poissonnière, Tevea provides fiscal representation in France and is a member of ARFF and IVA. This acquisition deepens VAT IT's footprint in French and wider European markets.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
VAT IT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Avalara: Avalara is a leading sales tax and VAT compliance automation platform. Directly comparable to VAT IT's US Sales Tax product covering 14,000+ jurisdictions, and overlaps in indirect tax compliance for cross-border digital services.
- Vertex: Vertex provides enterprise indirect tax determination, compliance, and e-invoicing solutions. Closely comparable to VAT IT across sales tax calculation, VAT determination, and global compliance software.
- VATBox: VATBox is a direct competitor offering a technology-driven VAT recovery and compliance platform. Closely comparable to VAT IT across product (cloud-based reclaim platform), target customers (multinationals with cross-border expenses), and success-based pricing model.
- Taxback International: Taxback International is a direct VAT recovery and compliance services peer, offering similar foreign VAT reclaim, registration, and compliance services to multinational enterprises across Europe, Asia, and other regions.
- Marosa: Marosa specialises in VAT compliance and digital reporting for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions. Directly comparable to VAT IT's Abacus and eezi platforms, particularly in Europe.
- Sovos: Sovos is a global tax compliance platform specialising in VAT, e-invoicing, and real-time reporting. Direct overlap with VAT IT's Abacus compliance and eezi e-invoicing products, particularly as global e-invoicing mandates expand.
Emerging players
- Fonoa: Fonoa is an API-first tax compliance platform focused on real-time invoice compliance and VAT determination. Emerging player with strong product overlap to eezi's API-driven e-invoicing approach.
- TaxJar: TaxJar (now part of Stripe) provides sales tax calculation, filing, and nexus monitoring for SMBs and mid-market. Overlaps with VAT IT's US Sales Tax product, particularly for online sellers and SaaS businesses.
Broad incumbents
- Wolters Kluwer (Indirect Tax): Wolters Kluwer's OneSource suite provides global indirect tax determination and compliance software as part of a broader professional information portfolio. Competes with VAT IT in the enterprise segment with deeper R&D resources.
- Thomson Reuters (ONESOURCE): Thomson Reuters' ONESOURCE Indirect Tax suite provides global VAT and sales tax compliance. Broad incumbent in enterprise tax technology with overlapping customer base to VAT IT. Note: Thomson Reuters is also listed as a VAT IT marketing partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VAT IT social profiles
Digital presenceVAT IT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VAT IT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
VAT IT subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
VAT IT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VAT IT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VAT IT
What does VAT IT do?
VAT IT identifies, researches, and recovers foreign VAT on behalf of businesses, providing end-to-end VAT reclaim and indirect tax compliance services across 70+ countries. The company complements its managed services with three proprietary technology platforms—Cloud (VAT recovery), Abacus (indirect tax compliance), and eezi (global e-invoicing)—that use AI-driven analysis and API integrations to automate invoice processing, flag non-compliant items, and manage filings across multiple jurisdictions.
Is VAT IT a public or private company?
VAT IT is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was VAT IT founded?
VAT IT was founded in 2002. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is VAT IT based?
VAT IT is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does VAT IT make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. VAT Reclaim Services are the primary driver. The others are VAT Compliance Services, E-Invoicing Solutions (eezi) and US Sales Tax Compliance.
Who are VAT IT's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Avalara, Vertex, VATBox, Taxback International, Marosa and Sovos. Emerging players are Fonoa and TaxJar. Broad incumbents are Wolters Kluwer (Indirect Tax) and Thomson Reuters (ONESOURCE).
Does VAT IT have an API?
Yes. Cloud platform offers API integrations for connecting ERP, travel, and expense management systems. The platform supports live-pull APIs to bring VAT data directly into the Cloud platform. eezi platform supports API connections, SFTP file transfers, and file uploads for integration with ERP, billing, and accounting systems. Integration options include Ad-Hoc/Zero-Code, Bulk Upload via encrypted SFTP, Real-Time Integration via API endpoints, and Enterprise-grade API for large organizations.
What industry is VAT IT in?
VAT IT's product category is Indirect Tax Compliance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHABAJ, Indirect Tax (VAT/GST/Sales & Use) Services, with a secondary code of THACADAF, VAT/GST Tax Recovery & Receipt Compliance. Its NAICS code is 5614 and its SIC code is 7370.