On 1 March 2026, VAT rates for the Belgian hospitality industry will change. For many businesses, this means extra administration and the risk of incorrectly set rates in the cash register system and all other sales channels. As an entrepreneur, it is important that your VAT settings are the same everywhere, without wasting too much time on it.
According to sector communications regarding the budget agreement, certain VAT rates will be reclassified. This could have a particular impact on non-alcoholic beverages and takeaway food.
In practice, it is often communicated that:
non-alcoholic beverages on site are heading towards 12%
takeaway meals are heading towards 12%
alcoholic beverages generally remain at 21%
The announced VAT change will mainly affect:
On-site sales versus takeaway
Beverages: the distinction between alcoholic and non-alcoholic is important
Product groups and combinations such as menus, combo deals, variations and extras
If you work with multiple sales channels in your business, there is one thing you want to avoid above all else: the VAT logic differing from one channel to another (cash register, online shop, kiosk).
Otherwise, this may result in:
Price communication: customers ask "why does this cost differently now?"
Time loss: you don't want to have to adjust settings just before 1 March.
Risk of error: an incorrect rate in one channel is enough to cause misunderstandings.
These are the classics we see in many catering establishments:
You have multiple channels (cash register, webshop, kiosk, digital price list) that are not 1-to-1 equivalent
Products are in the wrong group (drinks/food), resulting in incorrect VAT charges
These are two common situations where a VAT change often causes confusion if your channels are not aligned:
Menu or combo deal with drink
A menu includes food and a drink. If these items are in the wrong product group, the VAT classification may turn out differently than you expect.
Online orders and kiosk at peak times
During busy periods, everything runs simultaneously: cash register, webshop and kiosk. If one channel is set up incorrectly, you will only notice this once customers have already paid or placed their orders.
Do I need to do anything as a Unipage customer?
As an existing Unipage customer, you don't need to worry about a thing. We will ensure that the change is implemented quickly. You can implement the VAT change with just one click, without having to adjust all your product prices one by one.
What if I have an exceptional situation?
If in doubt, we recommend checking with your accountant. Our support team will then be happy to help you with the correct setup in Unipage.
Practical step-by-step plan for Hospitality professionals : Read the blog
What Unipage does for his customers: Read the blog
* Source: Horeca Vlaanderen
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