Configure your VAT classes

If you're VAT-registered, Khroma lets you define your own rate classes and link them to your listings. This article walks through the setup: where to find the settings, what Khroma creates by default, how to add a class, how to configure per-country rates.

If you aren't yet sure of your VAT status (exempt or registered), start with VAT exemption or VAT registered. The classes described here only appear in the interface once you've enabled VAT collection.

Where to find it

Dashboard → Shop → Tax

The screen contains several sections:

• Legal Identity & Invoices — business name, legal status, registration number, VAT number, address, invoice footer note.
• VAT Collection — a toggle that controls whether VAT is collected.
• Tax Classes — visible if collection is enabled. The detailed class management lives here.

A How does it work? Read the guide link from this screen points to this article.

Legal Identity & Invoices

Six fields, all optional, that appear at the bottom of your invoices:

• Business name — for example Studio Martin.
• Legal status — Sole trader, LLC, Ltd, etc.
• Registration number — your business identifier (14-digit SIRET in France, equivalent in your country).
• VAT number — FR 12 345678901 format for France.
• Full address — postal address, shown on the invoice.
• Invoice footer — text shown at the bottom of the invoice. For example VAT exempt — Small business scheme if you have VAT exemption.

All these fields are free-form and optional; in practice your business name and address are expected on a compliant invoice. Check the obligations specific to your country.

Khroma's class system

A VAT class is a rate that you create and link to your listings. You can create as many classes as needed, name them however you wish, and set their rates freely. Each artwork listing references a single class.

On signup, Khroma automatically creates two classes:

• Reduced rate at 5.50%.
• Standard rate at 20.00%.

Both are fully editable. You can change the name, the rate, add others, delete them (unless a listing still references the class — reassign it first). A Reset to default rates button restores the two initial classes if you want to start over.

Available actions on a class

For each listed class, three actions are available:

• ★ — set as the default class. The default class is pre-selected when you create a new listing.
• ✎ — edit the name and rate.
• ✕ — delete (impossible if the class is still referenced by a listing).

A Default badge marks the pre-selected class.

Rate validation

Khroma validates that your rates are between 0 and 100 (as percentages). Outside that range, save is rejected with the message Invalid rate (0-100). Saved changes show a Changes saved toast.

Advanced mode: per-country rates

A class can have a different rate depending on the buyer's country. This is necessary if you sell internationally and rates vary (for example a reduced photo rate at 5.5% in France but 7% in Germany).

To enable this mode on a class, click Configure rates by country under the relevant class. A table appears with three columns:

• Code — two-letter ISO country code (FR, DE, IT, *).
• Name — resolved automatically.
• Rate (%) — the rate that applies in this country.

The special code * stands for All other countries: this is the rate used when the buyer's country is not listed explicitly. Always keep a * row to avoid having no applicable rate.

Two preset buttons speed up entry:

• + All EU — adds all EU countries at once.
• + Rest of world — toggles the * row on/off.

An Add a country button opens a selector for one-by-one additions. A Reset to simple mode button removes all per-country rates and restores a single rate at the class level.

Practical advice

Most artists don't need advanced mode at first. If you sell mainly in your home country, a single rate per class is usually sufficient. Enable per-country rates only when you start receiving regular foreign orders.

Which rate for which medium?

Below are some indicative rates commonly seen in Europe for original artworks (reduced rate) and reproductions (standard rate). These values are not guaranteed: they may change and depend on your tax situation, the country of sale, and the transaction type.

| Country | Indicative reduced rate | Indicative standard rate | | --- | --- | --- | | France | 5.50% | 20.00% | | Germany | 7.00% | 19.00% | | Italy | 5.00% | 22.00% | | Spain | 10.00% | 21.00% | | Belgium | 6.00% | 21.00% | | United Kingdom | to be verified case by case | 20.00% | | Switzerland | 2.60% | 8.10% |

For France, the precise conditions for an artwork to qualify as an "original artwork" are detailed in Tax thresholds to know.

Assigning a class to a listing

When creating or editing a listing, in the Tax section of the form:

• If you're VAT-registered, the Tax class selector lists your classes. The default class is pre-selected.
• The — None — option is available: the listing is then treated as untaxed for this class (useful for natively exempt works).

Khroma may display inline warnings in the Tax section when the combination of medium + technique + copy count + class looks unusual (for example a giclée print of a painting paired with a reduced rate). These warnings are informational and do not block publication.

What the buyer sees

The buyer sees the price including VAT on the listing. At checkout, the breakdown details the VAT:

• If the applicable class has a rate > 0: line VAT included ({rate}%).
• If you have VAT exemption (collection disabled globally): label No VAT.
• For a non-EU sale, a Customs duties may apply on import. These charges are the buyer's responsibility note is added.

The invoice issued by Stripe to the buyer carries the same information, plus your legal identity and the footer text you configured.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I change a class rate after publishing listings?

The new rate applies to all future sales. Orders already placed keep their original rate — the breakdown and invoice do not retroactively update.

Can I delete a class used by listings?

No. You must first reassign those listings to another class, then delete the now-unused class.

How do I handle a 0% rate sale (exempt artwork)?

Create a dedicated 0% class (for example Exemption) and link it to the relevant listing. You can also leave the selector on — None — depending on your interpretation.

My two default classes are identical to my photo and painting tax in France — is splitting useful?

Not necessarily in France. But if you sell internationally and the thresholds or definitions diverge (e.g. photography in Germany is 7%, painting also 7% but with different conditions), one class per medium may clarify invoicing.

Are the two default classes mandatory?

No. You can delete one or both and create your own. They are starting points.