Recover VAT/GST on your Clinical Trial Imports
It doesn’t have to be a sunk cost
VAT and GST are often seen as unavoidable costs but they don’t have to be. With TecEx Medical, you can recover or reduce these taxes in over 33 countries, turning sunk costs into valuable budget you can reinvest in your research.
Up to 25% of your goods’ value recovered.
Up to 50% of import tax savings in some markets.
Minimal effort required from your team.
The Hidden Profit Drain in Clinical Trial Imports
If you’re importing drugs, devices, or trial equipment, VAT/GST can silently erode your budget. But the reclaim process is tedious and challenging to do in-house:
Licensing Barriers
Most CROs and sponsors simply can’t reclaim these taxes themselves because they don’t hold the right licenses.
Bureaucratic Hurdles
Obtaining a sponsor’s signature or a local Letter of Attorney can slow down the process.
Country-Specific Requirements
Meeting unique requirements in each country often makes in-house recovery impractical.
Whether you’re a clinical or operational supply chain manager dealing with costly imports, leaving VAT/GST savings on the table can make a dramatic difference to the economics of your clinical trial.
With the right documentation and our regulatory expertise, savings of up to 50% are possible in certain markets. We handle the paperwork, approvals, and local compliance to ensure that you maximize the possible savings easily and efficiently.
We’ve Helped Ship Over 22,000 Shipments
Where We Operate
While TecEx Medical operates IOR and EOR services in 90+ countries across the globe, our VAT/GST savings service is only available in about 33 of them where we have established regulatory pathways and proven success.
All of our solutions are completely bespoke, so be sure to get in touch even if the country you’re working in isn’t on this list – we’d love to see what we can do.
| Country | Expected Savings | VAT/GST Rate | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU via the Netherlands | 50% | 21% | Upfront Saving |
| EU via Slovakia | 50% | 20% | Upfront Saving |
| United Kingdom | 50% | 20% | 7-18 months |
| Norway | 50% | 25% | 7-18 months |
| Iceland | 50% | 24% | 7-18 months |
| Switzerland | 50% | 8% | 7-18 months |
| Australia | 50% | 10% | 3-6 months |
| New Zealand | 50% | 15% | 4-9 months |
| South Korea | 0-25% of duties | 10% | Upfront Saving |
| Singapore | 50% | 9% | Upfront Saving |
Proven Results
Unlocking VAT Savings in Singapore & South Korea
The Challenge:
A large-scale clinical study was incurring significant import VAT and duties on shipments into Singapore and South Korea . Due to the complexity of rules surrounding country of origin (COO) and the mix of imported commodities, the sponsor had accepted these costs as unavoidable.
TecEx Medical’s Intervention:
Through meticulous groundwork by TecEx Medical’s specialist team, a novel VAT savings pathway was identified based on COO regulations. This was one of the first major studies where TecEx’s VAT solutions were implemented, tested, and proven in both markets. The team worked closely with the sponsor’s supply chain to integrate the new process without disrupting trial timelines.
Outcome:
- Secured substantial VAT savings across multiple shipments.
- Delivered an upsell opportunity for the client, leading to multiple follow-on change orders.
- Established a tried-and-tested VAT recovery method for these high-value Asian markets, setting a benchmark for future projects.
Cutting VAT Costs for High-Value Imports into Norway
The Challenge:
A prominent sponsor faced steep import VAT costs on multiple Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP) shipments into Norway . Each shipment was valued at around $220,000, and with Norway’s VAT rate at 25%, the tax burden was substantial.
TecEx Medical’s Intervention:
By combining our specialist Importer of Record (IOR) capabilities with our VAT savings expertise, TecEx Medical secured a 50% reduction in VAT payable. Our local regulatory knowledge ensured compliance while minimizing client-side admin.
Outcome:
- Immediate and significant cash flow relief during the trial.
- Initial 50% savings expanded into a 100% upfront VAT exemption for future shipments through a refined process.
- Demonstrated TecEx Medical’s ability to evolve and enhance savings over time.
Streamlining VAT for UK Imports
The Challenge:
A biotech sponsor had already registered for VAT and established a UK entity, intending to self-manage VAT and IOR processes for trial shipments. However, operational bottlenecks, including coordination gaps between freight providers and contract packaging teams, caused severe delays. Compounding the issue, the sponsor struggled to navigate the UK’s Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) process, resulting in unrecovered VAT on initial shipments.
TecEx Medical’s Intervention:
Working closely with the sponsor’s finance team, TecEx Medical redesigned its import VAT process from the ground up. We eliminated unnecessary administrative steps, ensured full alignment between logistics partners, and took on the burden of VAT compliance and documentation.
Outcome:
- A streamlined, predictable VAT process that freed up finance and operations teams to focus on the trial itself.
- Removal of the risk of VAT being unrecoverable due to payment flow or documentation errors.
- Improved sponsor confidence in UK trial logistics.
Multi-Million Dollar Savings for a Global Supply Partner
The Challenge:
For high-value IMP shipments, duties and VAT are often treated as irreversible costs. A leading global trial supply partner sought to strengthen their value proposition by finding a way to cut these expenses for their sponsors.
TecEx Medical’s Intervention:
Leveraging deep VAT recovery expertise and IOR structuring, TecEx Medical secured significant savings for two major shipments:
- Shipment 1: 75% tax reduction, equating to a saving of $752k.
- Shipment 2: 60% tax reduction, equating to a potential saving of $5.7 million.
Outcome:
- Combined potential VAT and duty savings of over $6.4 million.
- Directly enhanced the client’s commercial offering to their sponsor base.
- Reinforced TecEx Medical’s unique ability to turn perceived sunk costs into measurable financial wins.
Our 3-Step Process
Assess and Confirm Eligibility
We’ll work with you to review your commodities, import history, and destination markets to identify VAT/GST saving potential and prepare an appropriate strategy.
Prepare and Process Documents
We manage all licensing, VAT agreements, and country-specific paperwork to take as much out of your hands as possible.
Apply for Savings or Reclaim Taxes
You’ll see the financial benefit upfront in some cases or via retrospective refunds.
Minimal disruption. Maximum return.
Why Choose TecEx Medical?
Global Reach
Hyper-local IOR capabilities in every key market across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond. Wherever your trial is, we can help.
Industry Expertise
Mountains of specialized experience with clinical trials, meaning we speak your language and know what you’re trying to achieve.
Single Point of Contact:
One dedicated account manager (and intuitive online portals) to oversee all jurisdictions, shipments, and documentation – meaning we are always available to help.
Transparent Pricing
Fixed-fee IOR packages with no hidden surcharges or unexpected costs. This aligns our incentives with yours – so we can make the best choices for you.
World-Class Service
We only hire exceptional, highly-qualified personnel so that we can guarantee premium service and high-quality results, every time.
We’re your one-stop shop for all clinical trial logistics:
Importer of Record
Avoid the need for local entities and let us manage all your global imports using our deep domain expertise. Outsourcing this function to a specialist unlocks tremendous value and risk mitigation.
Exporter of Record
Get samples and supplies back where they need to go, fast. We handle complex export regulations and controlled substances so that your exports are seamless and headache-free.
Custom Clearance and Brokerage
99.94% first-time clearance rate with 2.56 days average processing time. Our clinical trial expertise means no more classification errors or unexpected delays.
Regulatory Compliance
We navigate the regulatory maze so you don’t have to. End-to-end compliance from a team of experts who have their finger on the pulse around the world.
VAT/GST Savings
Recover up to 50% of import taxes across 33+ countries. We’ve saved millions in VAT/GST that sponsors thought was lost forever. Minimal effort, maximum return.
Stop Losing Money on Import Taxes
Every shipment could be saving you thousands in VAT/GST. With TecEx Medical, those savings go straight back into your trial budget.
Surely that’s worth a conversation?