FAQ
Straight answers.
Rates, limits, payments, and what this tool will not pretend to be.
+Where do RateNest VAT rates come from?
Rates are stored in your own database and seeded from the European Commission member-state table, reviewed in October 2026. An administrator can correct a rate, add a reduced rate, or record the date it changed. The calculator never calls a third-party tax API.
+Is a RateNest result something I can file?
No. The calculator and the reverse-charge guide are planning tools. They round to cents and apply the rate you select. They do not know every exception, margin scheme, or local registration threshold. Ask a tax adviser before you rely on a treatment for a real return.
+What is the difference between adding and removing VAT?
Add VAT when you have a net price and need the gross amount a customer pays. Remove VAT when a price already includes tax and you need the net and the tax portion. Both paths round to cents, with VAT rounded after the net amount.
+Can I use the invoice generator without an account?
Yes. Guests can preview one line and download a PDF with a RateNest footer. An account saves up to three invoices on the free plan. Pro removes the footer, unlocks extra lines, currencies, templates, your logo, clients, and reports.
+Do you sell customer data?
No. Invoices, clients, and calculations stay in your database. There is no advertising network and no resale of contact lists. The privacy policy spells out the legal bases under the GDPR.
+How do Bitcoin payments work?
If BTCPay Server is configured, checkout opens there and a webhook marks the subscription paid. Otherwise RateNest creates a reference code and an administrator confirms the payment by hand. Card subscriptions use Stripe when the secret key and price IDs are set.
+Does the United States page calculate VAT?
The US has no VAT. That page is a statewide sales-tax overview. Local surtaxes are extra, and a European seller does not collect US sales tax merely by invoicing a US client.
+Can I embed the calculator?
Yes. The embed page is a slim calculator you can place in an iframe. It links back to RateNest and uses the same rates as the main tool.