Introduction
This article explains how to manage VAT rates and ensure they are correctly applied to the (wholesale) costs generated for CPO operators.
Important clarification: GreenFlux does not support retail cost calculation with VAT for pure eMSPs (operators that only perform the eMSP role on the GreenFlux platform). The retail costs with VAT field may still be populated, but this value is either:
- the same as the retail costs without VAT (assumption that VAT rate is 0), or
- based on the VAT rate defined by the CPO operator (in cases where chargers are managed in the GreenFlux backend).
As a result, the “retail costs with VAT” field should not be considered reliable and may not comply with the tax requirements that apply to the eMSP. Pure eMSPs need therefore to calculate VAT themselves on their own systems, when/if applicable.
How can CPO operators define VAT rates for their charging infrastructure
The VAT management capability enables configuration of VAT rate at 3 levels: tariff code and/or CPO contract code and/or CPO. This feature is only enabled to super admin users (GreenFlux staff only).
How to define VAT rates?
There is a new tab in the platform, specifically addressing VAT topic, under CPO Billing.
The process to create a VAT is pretty straight forward:
- Click on the VAT section
- Click on “Add New” at the top right corner
- Fill in the details in each one of the fields. Further details for the option on each field hereunder
Type field: this is a dropdown (mandatory), available options are:
- CPO Contract
- CPO
- Tariff (CPO Network Tariff) (only visible/editable for super admin)
Select (CPO Contract/CPO/Tariff) field: this is a dropdown (mandatory), which will prompt to select one of the three, according to the type chosen before:
- Setting VAT at a Tariff Level:
- super admins can use this function to define VAT per Tariff. The tariffs which a user can select are listed per the CPO contract. I.e., the Tariff, part of the CPO contract, will be visible to a Tenant for a user to set VAT.
- Setting VAT at a CPO contract Level:
- Admins can use this function to define VAT per CPO contract. Prior to having any CPO-c available in the list, it is needed to set the tenant as owner of that CPO-c. For XX-GFX CPO contracts, GreenFlux Admin tenant must be set as its owner, and the VAT is defined in that tenant. For customer specific codes, the customer's tenant needs to be set as the owner of the CPO-c. After that, it is possible to select it an define a VAT. To set tenant ownership for a certain CPO-c, you need to be a super admin, go to configuration --> EvPortal --> Tenants, choose the tenant, CPO contracts tab, then on the required CPO-c press the action button on the right and click Make this tenant owner.
- Setting VAT at a CPO level: This is an existing function where VAT was defined at a CPO level (object). This function will now be migrated to this new VAT feature.
- VAT details number input (mandatory)
- Here, the VAT percentage can be entered (allow two decimal places).
- Start and end date, finally the user can enter a validity range
- Start date -> defaults to today (mandatory)
- End date -> defaults to indefinite
After pressing save, user needs to review information before implementing the changes.
When defining a VAT at tariff level, this should be done with a previous thorough assessment, as doing so will affect all CDRs for chargers that use the changed tariff code. In practical terms, one should only set VAT at tariff level when we are pretty sure that only that customer will be using that tariff code, and the customer must not use the tariff in regions with distinct VAT rates.
Which VAT rates apply in my situation?
Having the above as a context, it is possible that under certain circumstances, there may be several "elements" within a certain charge session, where distinct VATs are defined.
This picture illustrates the 3 levels where is possible to define VAT rates. Each level has a certain priority associated, which means that if in any given scenario I have more than one VAT rate being applicable, then the system will pick the VAT from the level that has more priority.
Let's make an illustration: Imagine a scenario, where I (CPO) am operating under FR-GFX (GreenFlux France CPO contract, assigned a VAT of 20%), my charger is mapped under CPO Guadeloupe Chargers (VAT is 8.5 %), and I have defined a tariff code which has a VAT rate defined as 0%. In this situation, the VAT that would apply to any session would be 0%, since there is a VAT defined at tariff level, which has the highest priority.
Defining VAT at CPO level must only be applied all chargers of that CPO are only performing sessions with tokens from the same tenant. In essence, if a certain CPO's chargers are roaming, performing charge sessions with external EMSPs, then the CPO operator cannot apply VAT rates at CPO level, and should rely on either VAT rate at CPO contract, or, when not possible, at tariff level.
Typical VAT configuration
Countries with a Single VAT rate
For countries where one VAT rate applies nationwide, configuration is straightforward.
Example: The Netherlands
VAT rate: 21%*
*This VAT rate is valid at the moment when this was written (December/2025)
Type | Details | VAT Rate |
CPO Contract | NL-PUC (Power Up’s CPO Contract) | 21% |
Countries with multiple VAT rates
For countries with regional VAT differences, configure VAT at tariff level for regions with exceptions.
Example: France
- Mainland France: 20%*
- Guadeloupe: 8.5%*
*This VAT rate is valid at the moment when this was written (December/2025)
Assumptions:
- CPO: Power Plus CPO with contract FR-PPC
- 90% chargers in mainland (15 tariffs)
- 10% chargers in Guadeloupe (4 tariffs)
Recommended configuration:
Type | Details | VAT Rate |
CPO Contract | NL-PPC (Power Plus CPO contract) | 20% |
Tariff** | Tariff ID#1 | 8.5 % |
Tariff** | Tariff ID#2 | 8.5 % |
Tariff** | Tariff ID#3 | 8.5 % |
Tariff** | Tariff ID#4 | 8.5 % |
Tariff** | Tariff ID#5 | 8.5 % |
** CPO operator then needs to ensure that the tariff above is only used in Guadeloupe, or otherwise it will be setting inadequate VAT rates (e.g. if any of the tariffs ID#1 to #5 would be used in a charger in France mainland, the prices with VAT that would be calculated, would include VAT rate of 8.5%, since VAT rate at tariff level has more precedence than at CPO contract level.