European buyers of online digital products, courses, and community memberships often face an unexpected 21% VA (or the local rate) added at checkout. For small purchases, it might seem minor, but on larger amount like a $99/month VIP membership or a $1,000 annual plan it can significantly increase the final price (e.g., $99 becomes ~$119+), hurting conversion rates and causing cart abandonment.
If you run or sell access to a Skool community (such as a premium membership or VIP tier), this extra tax can cost you members. Many creators report losing potential upgrades because of it. Fortunately, there's a simple, effective workaround that works in most cases.
According to Skool's own documentation:
Note: Pure digital products like ebooks or online courses are often treated as electronically supplied services under EU rules and are subject to VAT at the destination rate for B2C sales. Even though some argue certain educational content should qualify for exemptions, platforms like Skool generally apply VAT conservatively.
Most platforms add VAT automatically without offering sellers an easy way to opt out or take responsibility themselves. Requests for seller-controlled VAT options are often ignored or refused.
Important Disclaimer: This method relies on how platforms detect buyer location (primarily IP-based). It is not a tax evasion strategy and should be used responsibly. Always consult a tax professional for your specific situation. Results may vary, and platforms can update their detection methods.
This approach has helped retain and attract members who would otherwise hesitate due to the inflated price. If you're running a Skool community or planning to buy premium access, trying this method could save you (or your members) hundreds of dollars per year.
Pro Tip: Always use the VPN consistently for checkout sessions and combine it with good privacy habits.
Have you tried this workaround?
Did it work for your Skool membership?
Share your experience in the comments below.
European buyers of online digital products, courses, and community memberships often face an unexpected 21% VAT (or the local rate) added at checkout.
For small purchases, it might seem minor, but on larger amounts—like a $99/month VIP membership or a $1,000 annual plan it can significantly increase the final price (e.g., $99 becomes ~$119+), hurting conversion rates and causing cart abandonment.
If you run or sell access to a Skool community (such as a premium membership or VIP tier), this extra tax can cost you members. Many creators report losing potential upgrades because of it. Fortunately, there's a simple, effective workaround that works in most cases.
Look how it is with VPN
And without VPN
Want to know more about skool?
If you run or sell access to a Skool community (such as a premium membership or VIP tier), this extra tax can cost you members. Many creators report losing potential upgrades because of it. Fortunately, there's a simple, effective workaround that works in most cases.
Why Skool Adds VAT for EU Customers
Skool acts as the Merchant of Record (MoR) for payments. This means Skool handles billing, invoicing, and tax compliance, including EU VAT on digitally supplied services like community access, courses, and memberships.According to Skool's own documentation:
- VAT is automatically added at checkout based on the buyer's detected location (usually via IP address and other signals).
- Rates vary by country (e.g., 19% in Germany, 20% in the UK for some services, 21% in others like Romania or Belgium).
- Creators receive net payouts Skool remits the VAT directly to the relevant governments.
Note: Pure digital products like ebooks or online courses are often treated as electronically supplied services under EU rules and are subject to VAT at the destination rate for B2C sales. Even though some argue certain educational content should qualify for exemptions, platforms like Skool generally apply VAT conservatively.
The Problem for Creators and Buyers
- A $99/month plan + 21% VAT → ~$119.79
- A $1,000/month VIP upgrade + VAT → over $1,210
- A $10,000/anual VIP upgrade + VAT → over $12,100
Most platforms add VAT automatically without offering sellers an easy way to opt out or take responsibility themselves. Requests for seller-controlled VAT options are often ignored or refused.
The Simple Solution: Appear Outside the EU Using a VPN
The most practical workaround is to mask your location so the platform (and payment processor) does not detect you as being in the European Union. This prevents automatic VAT application in many cases (reported success rate ~95% for Skool communities).Important Disclaimer: This method relies on how platforms detect buyer location (primarily IP-based). It is not a tax evasion strategy and should be used responsibly. Always consult a tax professional for your specific situation. Results may vary, and platforms can update their detection methods.
Step-by-Step Guide: Bypass EU VAT on Skool Purchases
- Install a Reliable VPN Download and install ProtonVPN a privacy-focused VPN with a strong reputation for security and independence.
Why ProtonVPN? It operates under Swiss jurisdiction (outside major surveillance alliances like Five Eyes) and is structured as a non-profit foundation, reducing risks associated with data collection or external pressures. Independent OSINT analyses highlight it as one of the lower-risk options in a consolidated VPN market dominated by entities with potential intelligence ties.- Free plan available (with limitations)
- Paid plans allow manual server selection
- Connect to a Server Outside Europe
- Open ProtonVPN and connect to a server.
- If the assigned server is in Europe (e.g., Netherlands, Romania, Poland), disconnect and request a new connection (on the free plan, you may need to repeat this several times).
- On the free plan, you cannot manually choose the country, so keep reconnecting until you get a non-EU server (common options include the United States, Japan, Canada, Singapore, or others outside the EU).
- On a paid plan, simply select a non-European country directly for faster results.
- ProtonVPN's free servers are located in a rotating or limited set of countries, including several outside the EU.
- Clear Your Browser Data (Optional but Recommended) Clear cookies, cache, and site data for skool.com to avoid any stored location information.
- Visit the Skool Plans Page and Purchase Go to your target community's pricing page (example: Human Optimization Lab or similar). Select your desired plan (Premium, VIP, monthly, or annual). Proceed to checkout VAT should not be added in most cases.
- Complete the Payment Pay as usual. You should see the base price without the extra 21% (or local) VAT.
Does This Work with Other VPNs?
It likely works with any reputable VPN that provides non-EU servers (e.g., servers in the US, Asia, or other regions). However, ProtonVPN is specifically recommended for its balance of privacy, no-logs policy, and reliability.
Final Thoughts
EU VAT rules for digital services are designed for consumer protection and fair taxation, but they create real friction for online creators and buyers. Until platforms offer more flexible options (e.g., seller-controlled tax responsibility), simple location-masking tools like a good VPN remain one of the most accessible solutions.This approach has helped retain and attract members who would otherwise hesitate due to the inflated price. If you're running a Skool community or planning to buy premium access, trying this method could save you (or your members) hundreds of dollars per year.
Pro Tip: Always use the VPN consistently for checkout sessions and combine it with good privacy habits.
Have you tried this workaround?
Did it work for your Skool membership?
Share your experience in the comments below.
European buyers of online digital products, courses, and community memberships often face an unexpected 21% VAT (or the local rate) added at checkout.
For small purchases, it might seem minor, but on larger amounts—like a $99/month VIP membership or a $1,000 annual plan it can significantly increase the final price (e.g., $99 becomes ~$119+), hurting conversion rates and causing cart abandonment.
If you run or sell access to a Skool community (such as a premium membership or VIP tier), this extra tax can cost you members. Many creators report losing potential upgrades because of it. Fortunately, there's a simple, effective workaround that works in most cases.
If you don't have a community on skool now you can make one, because your chances of success are much higher.Look how it is with VPN
And without VPN
Want to know more about skool?