I am an individual without a registered business

This is a very common situation among chefs on ChefMaison. Here's the correct procedure, on both sides of the invoice.

On your own items (the VAT you set on your menu, travel costs, etc.)

As an individual without a business registration, you generally aren't legally able to charge VAT on your invoices — VAT can normally only be charged by a registered, VAT-liable business. In practice, this usually means your items should be set at 0% VAT, since you're not registered to charge it. This isn't a ChefMaison rule — it follows from your own legal status as an individual, so if you're ever unsure, your accountant or local tax authority can confirm exactly how your country treats this.

On commission (what ChefMaison charges you)

Because you don't have a valid VAT number, ChefMaison has to account for VAT on the commission we collect from you ourselves — so the higher, combined commission rate applies (commission + VAT built in) rather than the lower rate available to registered businesses. In most EU countries (outside the Netherlands and Italy), this is the difference between 15% (with a valid VAT number) and 18.15% (without one).

What you should NOT do

Don't toggle yourself as "tax exempt" in an attempt to get the lower commission rate, or just because your items are at 0% VAT. The commission rate is only determined by whether you have a valid, verified VAT number on file — not by any exemption toggle, and not by what VAT rate you've set on your own items.

If your situation changes

If you later register a business and obtain a VAT number, simply update it in your Business & Tax info — your commission rate will move to the lower bracket automatically once it's verified.

One more thing to keep in mind

Even without charging VAT, you're still generally responsible for reporting and paying tax on your own income as an individual — that part is entirely separate from ChefMaison and depends on your country's rules for self-employed or individual earners. We'd always recommend checking with an accountant to make sure you're set up correctly from the start.

💡 If you're unsure, check with your accountant first — we can explain how the platform and commission work, but we can't advise on your personal tax situation.

Updated on: 14/08/2026