Tax regulations for vouchers in the EU
Difference between single-purpose and multi-purpose vouchers
The single-purpose voucher is a voucher for which the place of service and also the tax due for the service are determined at the time the voucher is issued. A single-purpose voucher is characterised by the fact that at the time when the voucher is issued, all the information exists for VAT related assessment of the service associated with the voucher. In the case of single-purpose vouchers, taxation takes place at the time of voucher issuing, since all characteristics relevant to taxation are known.
A multi-purpose voucher is accordingly a voucher that is not a single-purpose voucher. When the voucher is issued, neither the place of service is specified, nor the tax due. Correspondingly, the applicable rate of tax is not yet determined. For this reason, taxation for these vouchers is not carried out until the time of voucher redemption.
Issue all vouchers as multi-purpose vouchers
e-guma is designed so that all vouchers are treated as multi-purpose vouchers.
To ensure that your vouchers are valid as multi-purpose vouchers, and that consequently the service is not taxed until the time of redemption, the following sentence must be added to the voucher texts of all service vouchers (e.g. brunch or overnight accommodation):
The voucher can also be redeemed for other services.
The voucher can also be redeemed for other services.
This addition means that when the voucher is issued, it is not specified for which service it must be redeemed, and it is therefore considered a multi-purpose voucher. The tax liability therefore only arises when the voucher is redeemed. It goes without saying that the provider must actually offer the voucher holder alternatives if they so request.