Understand how VAT is applied to your room prices and displayed to guests throughout the booking journey.
VAT information is displayed throughout the booking journey to help guests clearly understand the VAT that applies to their booking.
The VAT percentage applied is based on the VAT configured for your hotel’s country. Depending on your hotel’s setup, VAT can be included in or excluded from your room prices.
How VAT works
VAT Included
If VAT is included in your room prices, guests will see a “VAT included” label throughout the booking journey.
The applicable VAT amount is calculated based on your country’s VAT percentage and shown separately in the price breakdown for transparency.
The VAT is already included in the booking price and is not added again.
VAT Excluded
If VAT is not included in your room prices, guests will see a “VAT excluded” label label throughout the booking journey.
The applicable VAT amount is calculated based on your country’s VAT percentage and added to the room price, forming part of the total booking price.
How and when the guest pays the booking amount depends on your hotel’s payment and deposit configuration.
Note for some LATAM hotels: In countries where VAT may depend on the guest’s eligibility for an exemption, VAT may be shown separately without being included in the booking total. In these cases, the guest may need to pay VAT directly at the hotel. The hotel determines whether VAT applies based on the guest’s eligibility under the applicable local rules.
FAQ
Where is VAT information displayed?
VAT labels are displayed throughout the booking journey so guests can clearly see whether VAT is included in or excluded from the displayed price.
Depending on the booking journey, VAT information may be visible in:
- Availability Calendar — in the price legend
- Group Hotel page
- Group Hotel Map
- Room Listing
- Room Configuration & Enhance Your Stay
- Cart — including the VAT amount as a separate line in the price breakdown
- Booking confirmation — within the Room Details
Note: If your hotel has “Hide prices in the Availability Calendar” enabled, VAT information will not be displayed in the Availability Calendar.
How is VAT shown in the Cart?
The Cart provides a breakdown of the VAT applicable to the booking.
For VAT Included, the VAT line shows the amount of VAT already contained within the booking price. This is provided for transparency and does not increase the booking total.
For VAT Excluded, the VAT line shows the amount added on top of the room price and included in the booking total.
For some LATAM hotels where VAT eligibility is determined at the hotel, VAT may instead be displayed separately as an amount that may need to be paid at the property.
Why do hotels on the Group Page show different VAT information?
VAT information is shown individually for each hotel.
Depending on the hotel, guests may see that VAT is included, excluded, or no VAT information where VAT does not apply.
This means that hotels within the same group may display different VAT information.
What happens to existing bookings if my VAT configuration changes?
Existing bookings are not affected or recalculated when your hotel’s VAT configuration changes. They retain the VAT information and amounts that applied when the booking was made.
The updated VAT configuration will apply to new bookings made after the change.
The VAT percentage is incorrect. What should I do?
VAT percentages are configured based on the country where your hotel is located.
If the VAT percentage displayed in your Booking Platform appears to be incorrect, please contact Bookassist Support so we can review the VAT configuration for your hotel’s country.
Is VAT also applied to meal plans and add-ons?
Yes. The same VAT percentage configured for the hotel is applied to meal plans and add-ons.