Last updated 2026-06-27
Tax Reclaim vs Success-fee reclaim services
Success-fee reclaim services is a category comparison: Firms and agents that file reclaims on your behalf and take a percentage of whatever refund is recovered. Tax Reclaim is the self-service alternative: you file the treaty forms yourself and keep the whole refund. Essential is €9.99/year for one country-year filing package across 98 source countries, Pro is €29/year for unlimited packages, and neither takes a percentage of what you recover.
At a glance
| Tax Reclaim | Success-fee reclaim services | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | €9.99/year Essential or €29/year Pro (free calculator tier) | Percentage of the refund (publicly cited examples ~15–25%; most firms don't publish) |
| You keep 100% of the refund | Yes — flat fee, no percentage | Depends on the fee |
| Country / form coverage | 98 countries (incl. 10 Eastern-European), 56 forms | Varies by firm |
| Interest income, not just dividends | Yes | Dividends (interest unclear) |
| Retail self-serve | Yes | Managed service |
| No broker credentials / portfolio linking | Yes — you enter figures manually | Yes |
What a €1,000 refund costs
Illustrative. Percentage figure illustrative — most success-fee services do not publish a rate. The larger or more frequent your refunds, the wider the gap.
Where Success-fee reclaim services is strong
- Zero upfront risk — you pay only on success
- Hands-off: someone else does the filing
- Expertise applied on genuinely complex cases
Where Tax Reclaim wins
- On a €1,000 refund a 20% fee is €200 vs a €29 flat fee — the percentage model gets expensive as refunds grow
- Often a minimum-claim threshold that excludes smaller refunds
- Less transparency; you don't control the filing
Who each is for
Choose Success-fee reclaim services if: One-off large or complex reclaims where you won't file yourself.
Choose Tax Reclaim if: Tax Reclaim charges €9.99/year for one country-year or €29/year for unlimited filing packages, instead of taking a percentage of the refund.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Success-fee reclaim services?
For retail investors reclaiming foreign dividend or interest withholding tax, Tax Reclaim is the self-service alternative: €9.99/year for one country-year filing package, no success fee, so the refund arrives whole. Success-fee reclaim services remains a strong choice one-off large or complex reclaims where you won't file yourself.
How does Tax Reclaim pricing compare to Success-fee reclaim services?
Tax Reclaim is €9.99/year essential or €29/year pro (free calculator tier). Success-fee reclaim services: Percentage of the refund (publicly cited examples ~15–25%; most firms don't publish) (this figure is not publicly published, as of 2026-07-06).
Who is Success-fee reclaim services best for?
One-off large or complex reclaims where you won't file yourself. It is less ideal for recurring, moderate refunds where a fixed fee is far cheaper.
Competitor details researched 2026-07-06 from: divizend.com (17.5% reference point). Pricing and features change — verify with the provider before deciding.
See what you can reclaim — free
Essential covers one country-year filing package for €9.99/year. Pro covers unlimited packages for €29/year. Both are flat and tax included, so no part of the refund goes to a success fee.
Calculate my reclaim