How VAT is managed in SystemeScale

📅 Last updated: June 2026

⏱ 5 min read

✅ All plans

In this article, you will learn how VAT works and how to configure it within SystemeScale.

Managing VAT can be complex because rates vary by country and product type. SystemeScale simplifies this process for you by applying VAT rules based on the product type and buyer information available at checkout.

Information products and services

For information products and services, the rule is simple: the VAT rate of the buyer’s country of residence is applied.

This is the default behavior of the order form in SystemeScale:

You set a price excluding VAT in the order form settings.
During the purchase, SystemeScale automatically adds the VAT rate of the buyer’s country.

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The Country field is required for VAT detection

If you do not select the Country field on your order form, the VAT rate applied will be 0%, because SystemeScale cannot determine which VAT rate should be applied.

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Example

You are in France, where VAT is 20%, and you sell a training course to a resident of Belgium, where the VAT rate is 21%. In this case, a VAT rate of 21% must be applied to the sale.

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Need help creating an order form?

Make sure your order form includes the required fields, especially the Country field, when VAT needs to be calculated automatically.

Read Order Form Guide →

Physical products

For physical products, the rule is simple: the VAT rate of the seller’s country applies.

To manage this, SystemeScale allows you to create physical products from the dashboard by going to the Assets tab, then Physical products.

For each physical product, you can define the VAT rate of your choice. We recommend setting the VAT rate of your country of residence.

Open Physical products

Go to the Assets tab, then open Physical products.

Create or edit a physical product

Create a new physical product or edit an existing one.

Set the VAT rate

Define the VAT rate you want to apply to that physical product.

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Selling physical products?

Review the physical product guide if you need to create the product before configuring VAT.

Read Physical Product Guide →

Set a VAT rate of your choice

If you want to set the VAT rate of your choice, for example to apply the reduced VAT rate for digital books in France, you must create a product in the interface, similar to a physical product, and sell it with SystemeScale.

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Use product-level VAT when you need more control

Creating the product in the interface allows you to define a specific VAT rate instead of relying only on the default VAT behavior for information products and services.

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Selling an eBook with a special VAT rate?

Use the dedicated eBook VAT guide if you need to apply a reduced VAT rate for a digital book.

Read eBook VAT Guide →

French Overseas Departments and Territories

French Overseas Departments and Territories, also known as DOM-TOM, have a local VAT rate that applies locally.

However, if you are not resident in one of these territories, the VAT rate to be applied when you sell to a resident of these territories is 0%.

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Reference source

This guidance is based on the EU VAT territorial status rules for EU countries and certain territories.

Key reminders

For information products and services, the buyer’s country VAT rate is applied.
For physical products, the seller’s country VAT rate applies.
If the Country field is missing from the order form, VAT will be applied at 0% because the buyer’s country cannot be determined.
For product-specific VAT needs, create a product in the interface and define the VAT rate there.

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Need the VAT charging guide?

Review the general VAT charging article if you need more context on charging VAT to customers.

Read VAT Charging Guide →

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📄How to charge VAT to your customers→📄How to sell an ebook with a VAT rate of 5.5%→📄How to create and sell a physical product in SystemeScale→