Platforms charge VAT by default
Many ticketing systems know only one flavour: 9% or 21% on everything. An exempt association gets invoices that are simply wrong.
For non-profits and associations
Selling tickets with a VAT exemption for your association or foundation
Many associations and foundations do not have to remit VAT on their ticket sales. MijnEvent handles the administrative side: one setting and all your invoices, prices and overviews are correct — without VAT where it doesn't belong.
Short answer
Can I sell tickets without remitting VAT?
Often yes, as an association or foundation. The Netherlands has several routes: the small businesses scheme (KOR) for turnover up to €20,000 per year, the exemption for fundraising activities by associations and foundations, and sector exemptions such as the one for sports clubs. If you fall under such an exemption, one setting in MijnEvent marks your organisation VAT-exempt: your ticket prices are then processed without a VAT line and the automatic invoices for your visitors show no VAT. If you are in fact VAT-liable, you set 9% or 21% and the system calculates everything correctly. Donations through the donation field are outside VAT anyway. Whether your organisation qualifies for an exemption is up to the tax authority — discuss it with your accountant; MijnEvent then takes care of the execution.
Why this pinches for non-profits
The rules exist precisely to relieve associations — but the administration around them does the opposite.
Manual corrections in the bookkeeping
The treasurer strips the VAT back out of every sales line afterwards. Error-prone, time-consuming and exactly the work that scares off volunteers.
Visitors asking for invoices
Business visitors want a correct invoice — with or precisely without VAT. Drafting and forwarding those by hand is nobody's hobby.
How MijnEvent handles it
One setting, and everything downstream is correct.
VAT exemption with one setting
Mark your organisation exempt and all your ticket sales are processed without VAT — in the checkout, the administration and on every invoice.
Automatic invoices that are right
Visitors download their own invoice: without a VAT line when exempt, with the correct rate when you are VAT-liable.
Donations outside VAT
The donation field in the checkout is separate from ticket sales. Gifts stay outside VAT ánd outside the platform fee.
9% and 21% handled neatly too
VAT-liable after all? Set the rate and the system calculates and invoices correctly. If your situation changes, you change the setting.
The exemptions at a glance
Not tax advice — but the three routes that most often apply to associations and foundations. Your accountant or the tax authority determines what applies to you.
Small businesses scheme (KOR)
If your turnover stays under €20,000 per year, you can opt for the KOR: no VAT charged, no VAT returns. Often the simplest route for small associations.
Fundraising activities
Associations and foundations may raise funds exempt from VAT up to certain annual limits — for instance with a benefit night or party. Check the current limits with the tax authority.
Sector exemptions
For sports clubs and certain socio-cultural institutions, among others, dedicated VAT exemptions exist for services to members and participants.
How VAT on ticket sales works
For VAT-liable organisers, admission tickets usually carry the reduced rate of 9% — covering performing arts, concerts, museums and sports matches, among others — and for some other events the general rate of 21%. On top of that, associations and foundations have a layer of exemptions that can remove VAT liability entirely: the small businesses scheme, the fundraising exemption and sector exemptions such as the one for sports clubs. Which regime applies to your organisation is determined by the tax authority — not by your ticketing platform.
What your ticketing platform múst do: execute your situation correctly. In MijnEvent you set per organisation whether you are exempt or charge 9% or 21%. That setting carries through the whole chain: the price breakdown in the checkout, the administration in your dashboard and the invoices visitors download themselves. If your situation changes — you grow past the KOR limit, or you are granted an exemption — you adjust the setting; historical orders and invoices remain as issued.
Two things to keep an eye on yourself. Donations through the donation field sit outside VAT ánd outside the platform fee, so keep them administratively separate from your ticket sales — the system does that automatically for you. And if you opt for the KOR, watch the €20,000 annual turnover limit: you see your revenue live in the dashboard, but the decision and the notification to the tax authority remain with you and your accountant.
For which organisations?
For sports clubs with tournaments and club parties, foundations and charities with benefit nights, schools with musicals and parents' evenings, churches with concerts, community centres and neighbourhood associations — and every other non-profit selling tickets without a profit motive. VAT-liable organisers who simply need to charge 9% or 21% are done with the same setting in one go.
Trusted by hundreds of organisers
Associations, foundations and charities run their ticket sales on MijnEvent — with automatic invoices, a fee-free donation field and the money directly in their own treasury via Mollie.
"The resale feature saves us an enormous amount of customer service — visitors simply handle it themselves. And we no longer have to create and send VAT invoices by hand either: visitors simply arrange those themselves."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about VAT and ticket sales
How do I set a VAT exemption in MijnEvent?
In your dashboard, under settings, you mark your organisation VAT-exempt. From that moment your ticket prices are processed without a VAT line and the automatic visitor invoices show no VAT. If you are VAT-liable, you choose 9% or 21% there instead.
Does MijnEvent decide whether I am exempt?
No. Whether your organisation falls under the KOR, the fundraising exemption or a sector exemption is up to the tax authority — discuss it with your accountant. MijnEvent then executes your choice correctly in checkout, administration and invoices.
What happens with donations in the checkout?
Donations through the donation field are separate from ticket sales: they stay outside VAT and MijnEvent charges no platform fee on them either. Every donated euro reaches your organisation in full.
Do my visitors automatically get an invoice?
Yes. Visitors download their invoice themselves from their order — you never draft or forward anything by hand. When exempt there is no VAT line; at 9% or 21% the rate is itemised correctly.
Is there VAT on MijnEvent's own fees?
All MijnEvent prices include VAT — the fee from €0.25 per paid ticket is the final amount. For an organisation that cannot reclaim VAT that keeps things clear: what it says is what it costs.
What if our situation changes?
If you grow past a turnover limit or become VAT-liable after all, you adjust the setting and the system calculates with the new rate from that moment on. Historical orders and invoices remain unchanged as issued.