Commission & VAT
We know commission and VAT can be confusing, so here's a simple breakdown of how it works and why the amount can vary from chef to chef.
The short version
Your commission rate depends on two things:
- Your country
- Whether you have a valid VAT number registered as a business
If you're registered as a business with a valid VAT number, you generally pay a lower commission. If you're not, we have to pay VAT ourselves on our side, so the commission is a bit higher to cover that cost.
Why does this happen?
ChefMaison is based in the Netherlands. Under EU tax rules, when we do business with another registered business in the EU, VAT can be "reverse-charged" — meaning we don't have to add VAT to what we charge you, because you handle your own VAT reporting in your country.
If you're not registered as a business (or your VAT number can't be validated), we're not able to use that mechanism. In that case, we're required to pay VAT on our end — so it's built into your commission rate instead.
Important: ChefMaison is not a tax advisor. We can't tell you exactly what applies to your personal situation — only your local tax authority or an accountant can do that. This article is just to help you understand how your commission is calculated.
Commission Rates by Country
Region | With a valid VAT number (Business) | Without a valid VAT number (Individual) |
|---|---|---|
European Union (except Netherlands & Italy) | 15% | 18.15% |
Netherlands | 18.15% | 18.15% |
Italy | 7.5% | 9.1% |
United Kingdom | 0% | 0% |
Outside the EU (except UK) | 18.15% | 18.15% |
A few notes on the exceptions: |
- Netherlands: Since ChefMaison is also based in the Netherlands, this isn't a cross-border transaction, so the VAT reverse-charge doesn't apply — the rate is the same either way.
- Italy: Chefs in Italy currently benefit from a reduced commission structure.
- United Kingdom: No commission-related VAT applies, so the rate is 0% regardless of your VAT status.
- Outside the EU: The reverse-charge mechanism is an EU-specific rule, so it doesn't apply here either — the rate is the same regardless of VAT status.
How to add your VAT number
- Open the ChefMaison app
- Go to your Profile
- Find the VAT / Tax status section
- Enter your VAT number
Once submitted, we validate it against the official EU VAT database. If it comes back valid, your commission will automatically update to the lower rate.
If your number can't be validated (for example, it doesn't match EU records), we'll continue applying the standard rate until it's resolved. If you believe your number is correct but isn't validating, feel free to reach out to us with supporting documents (business registration, website, etc.) — we'll take a look, though please note that even with those documents, the reduced commission specifically requires a validated VAT number.
What about the service fee?
Separately from commission, clients pay a service fee on top of your quote — this is charged to the client, not deducted from your payout. It varies slightly based on your country and other factors (like order size or type), but the base rates are:
Region | Base Service Fee |
|---|---|
Netherlands, France, Belgium | 2.5% |
Italy | 5% |
United Kingdom | 7% |
All other countries | 4% |
This can be adjusted up or down slightly (typically within 0.5%–1.5%) depending on the specific booking. |
Where can I see my commission before confirming an order?
When you update or confirm a booking in the app, you'll see the exact commission that applies before it's finalized — so there are no surprises when you receive your payout.
FAQ
Why was my invoice different from what I actually received? If your invoice doesn't match your payout amount, it's usually related to VAT handling. Reach out to us and we'll review it — in some cases we may need you to confirm your VAT number first so we can reissue the invoice correctly.
I'm an individual, not a registered business — can I still get the lower rate? Only businesses with a valid, EU-verifiable VAT number qualify for the reduced commission. If you're not registered as a business, the standard rate applies, since ChefMaison has to account for VAT on our side.
I have more questions about VAT in my country. We're happy to help where we can, but we're not tax professionals — for anything specific to your situation, we recommend checking with your local tax authority or an accountant.
Updated on: 15/07/2026
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