A practical guide to trade licences, self-employment and business in Czechia

Invoice for a VAT Non-Payer 2026: How to Issue an Invoice Without Tax

Find out how to issue an invoice as a VAT non-payer, when to watch the 2,000,000 Kč turnover threshold, and how to invoice abroad.

A non-payer doesn't issue a tax document

If you're not a VAT payer, you don't state any tax rate or VAT amount on the invoice — you charge only the agreed price excluding tax. As a non-payer you issue the invoice as an ordinary commercial document, not as a tax document within the meaning of the VAT Act — that's reserved for payers and identified persons.

So the customer doesn't make a mistake, it's customary to add the sentence "Not a VAT payer" (Nejsem plátce DPH) or "The person is not a VAT payer" to the invoice. The VAT Act doesn't explicitly require this note — it's not a mandatory requirement, but recommended practice. In practice, though, most accountants and customers expect it, so it's worth always adding it to the invoice.

The other requirements — invoice number, IČO, registered address, description of the supply and due date — must be the same on a non-payer's invoice as on a VAT payer's. Find the complete overview in the article Invoice Requirements.

Watch the 2,000,000 Kč turnover threshold

Even as a non-payer you must monitor your turnover for the calendar year. As soon as it exceeds 2,000,000 Kč, you become obliged to file a VAT registration application within 10 working days of exceeding it. Find a detailed overview of the thresholds, deadlines and everything that counts toward turnover on the page VAT for the Self-Employed 2026.

Invoicing abroad as a non-payer

Even as a VAT non-payer you can invoice foreign clients — but the rules differ depending on who and what you're invoicing.

  • Service to a company in the EU (B2B) — under the basic rule (§ 9(1) of the VAT Act), the place of supply is generally in the customer's country, so you don't state VAT on the invoice, but you add the mandatory note "the customer will pay the tax" ("reverse charge") under § 29 of the VAT Act. This usually makes even a non-payer an identified person, who must file a registration application.
  • Buying a service from abroad (e.g. advertising on Google or Meta) works the other way round: you become an identified person as the customer and pay the VAT on the received service yourself to the Czech tax office, with no right to deduct it.
  • Goods or a service outside the EU — for the export of goods, VAT isn't charged under domestic rules; for digital services to final consumers outside the EU, the place of supply is assessed separately.

We discuss the whole identified person mechanism, registration deadlines and exceptions in detail on the page VAT for the Self-Employed 2026. You can also check the current rules on the Tax Administration portal.

Frequently asked questions about a VAT non-payer's invoice

Can I deduct VAT as a non-payer?
No. As a non-payer you're not entitled to deduct input VAT — you pay the price including VAT charged by your supplier as your final cost. This is no exception even for VAT you pay yourself as an identified person — you can't deduct that either.
What if I accidentally state VAT on the invoice?
If a non-payer nevertheless states VAT on the invoice, under § 108 of the VAT Act they become obliged to declare and pay that amount to the tax office, without becoming a payer or gaining a right to deduct it. So correct the invoice and issue a new one without the tax rate and amount stated.
Do I have to deal with VAT on an invoice to the EU?
When selling a service to a company in another EU state (B2B), the place of supply is generally in the customer's country, so you don't charge VAT, but you state a note about the reverse charge. Even a non-payer thus often becomes an identified person — find details on the page VAT for the Self-Employed 2026.
When do I have to register for VAT?
Mandatorily, as soon as your turnover for the calendar year exceeds 2,000,000 Kč — you file the application within 10 working days of exceeding it. Earlier, registration is only handled as an identified person, for example when buying advertising on Google or Meta. Everything is summarised on the page VAT for the Self-Employed 2026.
What's the difference between a tax document and an invoice?
An invoice is a common commercial document that anyone can issue. A tax document is a statutory term under the VAT Act, and only a payer or identified person may issue it — it must contain a DIČ, tax rate and tax amount. The requirements for a common invoice are summarised in the article Invoice Requirements.