VAT

Vendion handles Swedish VAT automatically per the Mervärdesskattelagen rules. VAT is driven by the VAT category per product/product group combined with the order format (dine in, table, takeaway, delivery) – so mixed orders and the correct rate for dine-in vs takeaway are handled without staff having to think about it.

Supported VAT rates

VAT reform April 1, 2026: served food is 12%, but the same food as takeaway or delivery is only 6% (temporary reduction until December 31, 2027). Alcohol is unchanged at 25% regardless of service form. The automatic switch between 12% and 6% requires the Variable VAT feature to be on – see Enable Variable VAT.

How VAT is calculated

All prices in Vendion include VAT (gross). On the receipt the system calculates backwards to show the VAT amount separately.

Example – 25% VAT, item price 100 SEK incl. VAT:

Price incl. VAT  = 100.00 SEK
VAT (25%)         = 100 × 0.25 / 1.25 = 20.00 SEK
Net               = 100.00 − 20.00 = 80.00 SEK

Example – 12% VAT, item price 100 SEK incl. VAT:

Price incl. VAT  = 100.00 SEK
VAT (12%)         = 100 × 0.12 / 1.12 ≈ 10.71 SEK
Net               = 100.00 − 10.71 ≈ 89.29 SEK

The calculation happens both in the POS and on the server – client and server always agree.

Mixed orders (food + alcohol)

For an order with both 12% and 25% items, VAT is shown split on the receipt:

Example:  Lunch menu       180 SEK  (12%)
          Glass of wine    125 SEK  (25%)
          Total            305 SEK
          VAT 12%           19.29 SEK
          VAT 25%           25.00 SEK

This is a legal requirement under SKVFS 2014:9 (Swedish cash register law) – the receipt must show VAT per rate.

Dine-in vs takeaway

• Dine-in (dine in / table): food 12%, alcohol 25%
• Takeaway: food 6%, alcohol 25%
• Delivery: food 6%, alcohol 25%

Alcohol is always 25% regardless of service form. For food and non-alcoholic drinks Vendion automatically switches between 12% (served) and 6% (takeaway/delivery) based on the order format – when Variable VAT is enabled.

Where is VAT set?

1. Menu → Products → choose product (or set the category on the product group)
2. Field: VAT category – Food / non-alcoholic drinks · Alcoholic drinks · Other goods 25% · Other goods 6% · VAT-exempt
3. Save

Set the VAT category per product group so all products in the group inherit the right category – see Configure VAT category per product group. An individual product can have an overriding category – see Product-Specific VAT Category Override.

Where does VAT appear in the system?

• On the receipt: VAT summary per rate at the bottom, with net amount
• In the Z report: Total per rate for the day, with line count
• In the bookkeeping module: Automatic output-VAT accounting lines – account 2610 (25%), 2620 (12%) and 2630 (6%) – see articles below
• In SIE export: Separate #TRANS lines per VAT rate
• In Analytics: VAT report per month/quarter/year for VAT declarations

Reconcile the chart of accounts with your own accountant – VAT and revenue accounts can differ between accounting firms.

Deep dive – accounting and declaration

VAT in the register is only step one. For full handling (BAS account mapping, VAT declaration to Skatteverket, SIE export) – see the articles in the Bookkeeping module:

• VAT in Vendion – Swedish VAT
• VAT alcohol vs food
• VAT declaration
• VAT takeaway vs dine-in

Tips

• Double-check new products: It's easy to forget setting VAT on a new dish – Analytics "VAT per product" shows missing rates
• Cocktail vs mocktail: A drink with alcohol = 25%. An alcohol-free mocktail is a non-alcoholic drink (12% served, 6% takeaway). Add them as separate products.
• Booking package with food and drink: Add them as two separate lines on the order instead of one line – that way VAT is booked correctly per rate
• VAT declaration: Run a monthly SIE export from the Bookkeeping module and send to the accountant, or use the Fortnox integration