What is a gift voucher?
A gift voucher allows your customer to purchase a product or service at a later date. Usually, such a voucher has a fixed value and is free to spend within a certain range or at a specific shop. Think, for example, of a fashion voucher or a book voucher. You can issue gift vouchers yourself, sell them through an external party or accept them as a means of payment.
Is there VAT on a gift voucher?
No, usually not directly. When selling a gift voucher, in most cases you do not have to pay VAT because you do not yet know what product or service will be provided.
VAT handling
You only charge VAT when the voucher is redeemed. At that point, it is clear which supply or service is being provided and which VAT rate applies.
Example: A customer buys a gift voucher of €50. On redemption for clothes with 21% VAT, you only then deduct that VAT.
What is a voucher?
A voucher, like a gift card, is a voucher, but is often issued by third parties, such as ticket or deals sites. With vouchers, distinction between the destination of the credit and the VAT rate is crucial. There are two types of vouchers, each with its own VAT rules.
Single-purpose vouchers
In this case, it is already clear at the time of purchase what the voucher will be used for and which VAT rate applies. You therefore pay VAT immediately upon sale.
Example: A voucher for a €60 massage with 9% VAT. You charge and remit this VAT directly.
Multi purpose vouchers
With these vouchers, when issued, it is not yet known what the voucher will be used for. As a result, the VAT rate is also unknown. You only pay VAT when you redeem them.
Example: A €25 Bol.com card. Only when the customer redeems it for a product does it become clear how much VAT you owe.
What is a seal?
Stamps are seen in VAT administration as vouchers that usually only have VAT implications when redeemed. You mainly come across them in savings programmes or promotional campaigns, for example at supermarkets. Customers save stamps with their purchases and can later use them for discounts or a free product. At the time of issue, no VAT is usually due yet, as there is no supply or service in return. The VAT settlement only follows once the stamps are redeemed.
VAT handling
Stamps do not automatically trigger VAT obligations when issued. VAT is usually settled only when the stamp is used.
Upon payment
When a customer buys stamps, for example at the till, no VAT is due yet. No actual supply or service is then taking place yet.
Example: A customer buys 10 stamps for €1. VAT only follows once the stamps are used.
On redemption
Once a customer uses the stamps, for example for a discount on a product, you have to charge VAT on the total amount of the supply, including the discount.
Example: Upon redemption of a full savings card, a customer will receive €10 discount on an €80 pan set. VAT is calculated on the full value of €80.
Overview of differences
To quickly understand the VAT rules for each type of voucher, below is a summary of the main differences between gift vouchers, vouchers and stamps. The table shows when you have to pay VAT, whether the rate is known, and the value and use. So you know exactly what to look out for in your administration.
| Feature | Gift voucher | Single-purpose voucher | Multi purpose voucher | Seal |
| Use | Disposable | Known delivery | Versatile | Savings or discounts |
| VAT moment | On redemption | On sale | On redemption | On redemption |
| VAT rate known | No | Yes | No | No |
| Value known | Yes | Yes | Yes | Often not |
| Example | Fashion gift card | Massage Deal | Bol.com map | Supermarket stamps |
Free gift vouchers and VAT: what about it?
Do you give away free gift vouchers? If so, in principle, no VAT is due as long as there is no performance in exchange. If, for example, you give a voucher in exchange for customer details or when purchasing a product, things may be different. In that case, you may have to split the total amount and attribute part to the voucher. The VAT is then divided.
Processing in your administration
Whenever a gift voucher, voucher or stamp is issued, clearly note the value, type of voucher and when it was redeemed. This avoids confusion about when you have to pay VAT. Use your accounting software? Then you can partly automate this. Yet control is still necessary: you are responsible for correct processing.
Also make sure that you correctly state VAT on your invoices and that you distinguish in your general ledger account between turnover with and without VAT liability at the time of sale.
