{"id":70564,"date":"2023-01-12T21:17:33","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T20:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.hellotax.com\/blog\/?p=70564"},"modified":"2026-06-30T21:21:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T19:21:04","slug":"vat-rates-in-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hellotax.com\/blog\/vat-rates-in-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"VAT Rates in Europe in 2026: Current EU VAT Rates by Country"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n

VAT rates in Europe vary from country to country, and using the wrong rate can quickly create pricing, invoicing, and compliance problems for online sellers. In this guide, we explain how VAT in Europe works in 2026, what the main EU VAT rates are by country, and why sellers should always check both the country and the product category before applying a rate.<\/p>\r\n

\"VAT<\/p>\r\n

Need help applying the correct VAT rates in Europe? hellotax can support you with EU VAT registrations, filings, and country-by-country compliance. Contact our VAT experts<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

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Book a free consultation<\/h3>

Our VAT experts are happy to help you. Book a free consultation today!<\/p>\n

Free consultation<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What are VAT rates in Europe?<\/h2>\r\n

VAT rates in Europe are not identical across the EU. Each Member State sets its own standard and reduced VAT rates within the framework allowed by EU law. The standard VAT rate in an EU country cannot be lower than 15%, but reduced and special rates can differ significantly depending on the country and the type of product or service. For online sellers, this means the correct VAT rate depends not only on where the customer is located but also on exactly what is being sold.<\/p>\r\n

If you want a broader operational overview beyond VAT rates in Europe, our EU VAT Compliance Checklist for Online Sellers (2026)<\/a> shows how registrations, OSS, filings, and tax letters fit together in practice.<\/p>\r\n

Key VAT rate changes in Europe for 2026<\/h2>\r\n

Several VAT rates in Europe changed recently or remain especially important for sellers in 2026. For example, the Netherlands increased the VAT rate for accommodation services from 9% to 21% from 1 January 2026, Estonia\u2019s standard VAT rate is now 24%, Finland\u2019s standard VAT rate is 25.5%, and Slovakia\u2019s standard VAT rate is 23%. These examples show why sellers should not rely on old VAT tables when pricing goods or setting tax rates in ecommerce systems.<\/p>\r\n

If you want to verify VAT rates directly from an official EU source, the European Commission\u2019s Taxes in Europe Database (TEDB)<\/a><\/strong> is a useful reference. It allows you to check VAT rates by country and by category of goods or services, which can be especially helpful when reduced rates or special national rules may apply. For online sellers, it is a good tool to double-check country-specific VAT treatment before setting prices or configuring tax settings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Overview of the VAT Rates in Europe in 2026<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Below is a practical overview of VAT rates in Europe in 2026, focusing on EU Member States most relevant to online sellers. Because reduced and special rates depend on product category, always confirm the exact treatment before invoicing customers or configuring tax settings in your webshop or marketplace account.<\/p>\r\n

Important:<\/strong> VAT rates in Europe can change during the year, and reduced rates often apply only to specific product categories. This means a country\u2019s \u201cheadline\u201d VAT rates are only the starting point. Sellers should always confirm the exact local treatment for their products, especially where reduced rates, temporary reliefs, or special regional rules apply.<\/p>\r\n

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The standard VAT rate is 20%<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

The reduced VAT rates are:<\/p>\r\n

13%<\/strong> for: domestic flights, admission to sporting and cultural events, amusement parks, firewood, certain agricultural supplies, wine production (from farms), and cut flowers and plants for decorative use.<\/p>\r\n

10%<\/strong> for: foodstuffs, takeaway food, water supplies, pharmaceutical products, domestic passenger transport (excluding flights), international and intra-community road and rail transport, books (including e-books), newspapers and periodicals, pay and cable TV, TV licences, social services, domestic refuse collection, treatment of waste and wastewater, restaurant services (excluding beverages), cut flowers and plants for food production, certain agricultural supplies, and services by writers and composers.<\/p>\r\n

0% VAT rate<\/strong> applies to intra-community and international transport (excluding road and rail), and hotel accommodation.<\/p>\r\n

Note:<\/strong> From 1 January 2026<\/strong>, Austria also introduced a VAT exemption for feminine hygiene products and certain contraceptives<\/strong>. Sellers of these products should therefore check whether the new zero treatment applies before continuing to use the previous reduced-rate setup.<\/p>\r\n

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Belgium<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h4>\r\n

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The standard VAT rate is 21%<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The reduced VAT rates are:<\/span><\/p>\r\n