VAT 3.8 % accommodation
Overnight stays including breakfast fall under the special rate of 3.8 per cent, all other catering under the standard rate of 8.1 per cent; a hotel invoice therefore has to separate the items by rate.
Definition
The special rate covers the accommodation service including breakfast, even where breakfast is included in the price. Half board and full board have to be split — the standard rate applies to the catering share. Whoever invoices a package must still be able to prove the split.
Done by hand this goes wrong regularly, particularly with packages that include extras. The visitor’s tax comes on top as a fourth item and is not taxable at all if it is shown separately and labelled as such.
The numbers
- 3.8%
- special rate for accommodation including breakfast FTA
Where to read it
What the software must be able to do
Check whether packages can be assembled from items at different rates and shown separately on the invoice — and whether the visitor’s tax sits alongside as a non-taxable item.
Checked Aug 2026
More terms under VAT and customs: Acquisition tax Customs declaration Effective method Exempt supplies Flat-rate VAT method Input tax Margin taxation Non-consideration Own use Place-of-recipient rule Reduction of consideration Takeaway 2.6 vs. eat-in 8.1 Value added tax VAT 8.1 / 2.6 / 3.8 % VAT liability