Tax, VAT, and GST

Last updated October 14, 2025

To comply with tax regulations, Kinsta charges sales tax, VAT, or GST as required for customers in certain countries and regions.

Please note that this article does not constitute legal, tax-related, or other professional advice.

If you have questions about adding your tax exemption certificate, VAT number, or GSTIN to our system, please contact our Billing team at any time. If you have further questions about tax or VAT, please contact your accountant, legal advisor, or local tax authority.

Locations subject to tax

US: We charge US sales tax to customers who live in, or whose company is registered in, Connecticut, the District of Columbia (DC), Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, or Washington State.
EU and UK: We charge VAT to customers who live in, or whose company is registered in, the EU or the UK.
Canada: We charge GST/HST to customers who live in, or whose company is registered in, Canada, plus QST for customers in Quebec and PST for customers in British Columbia.
India: We charge Indian GST to customers who live in, or whose company is registered in, India.
Nigeria: We charge Nigerian VAT to customers who live in, or whose company is registered in, Nigeria.

US sales tax

To comply with US tax regulations, Kinsta adds sales tax to invoices for customers located in some states in the United States based on your billing address within Billing Details.

Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by the government on the sale of goods and services. Sales tax is governed by states and may also be charged by local municipalities, so the percentage may vary from one city and state to the next. You can read more about sales tax at usa.gov.

If you are a US resident or your company is registered in the US, we are obliged to apply sales tax to your purchases if you are located in a state that requires it.

For example, the sales tax rate in Texas is 6.25% at the time of writing. If you purchase a WP 2 plan (list price of $70 at the time of writing), your checkout total will be $74.38. This consists of the $70 list price and a 6.25% tax, which is $4.38. These items are shown separately on the checkout page and in your invoices and are added automatically based on the state you are located in.

States affected by US sales tax

Sales tax is calculated and applied based on the location where services are performed. We determine where our services are being used by looking at the address you provide when you sign up. You can review and update this address in MyKinsta.

Sales tax will be applied to the invoices of customers utilizing our services in any of the following states:

Connecticut
The District of Columbia (DC)
Ohio
Tennessee
Texas
Washington State

Additional states may be added to this list over time. If it is determined that Kinsta will need to collect sales tax in an additional state, we will update affected customers prior to implementing the change.

Sales tax exemption

Under certain circumstances, you or your company might be eligible for a sales tax exemption. Sales tax exemptions are handled on a state-by-state basis. If your organization is exempt from sales tax, please contact our Billing team and provide a copy of your tax exemption certificate.

For more information regarding tax exemptions, check with your state’s Department of Revenue.

EU and UK VAT

To comply with tax regulations, Kinsta charges VAT (Value-Added Tax) to EU and UK residents and to EU and UK-based companies.

VAT is a tax added to the price of most goods and services in the EU and UK, including digital services such as hosting. VAT is a percentage of the price that is added to each invoice. The VAT rate is defined by each country. Depending on which country you reside in or your company is registered in, the VAT rate will be different.

Data on the specific VAT rates is published regularly. Note that each country can set multiple VAT rates. Our services fall under the standard rate. To view specific rates, see your governing body’s official page:

If you are an EU or UK resident, or your company is registered in the EU or UK, we are generally obliged to apply VAT to your purchases. For example, at the time of writing, the standard VAT rate in Spain is 21%. If you purchase a WP 5 plan (list price of $125 at the time of writing), your checkout total will be $151.25. This consists of the $125 list price and a 21% tax, which is $26.25. These items are shown separately on the checkout page and in your invoices. The VAT rate we must apply depends on your selected country.

Zero-rate VAT

If you provide a valid VAT Number, we are allowed, under applicable tax rules, to zero-rate VAT. This means that we will charge 0% VAT. If you have a VAT number, you should add it during registration or in MyKinsta (username > Company settings > Billing Details) to ensure VAT is not charged to you. As a VAT-registered business, you will still be responsible for VAT under the reverse charge mechanism of your country.

Add a VAT number

You can add your VAT number at any time in MyKinsta. From the Dashboard, click Company settings, then Billing Details. Enter your VAT ID in the VAT Number field and click Save changes. Note that this can take many formats, as each country determines its own. See the relevant format guide for more information:

EU VAT Numbers start with the issuing country’s two-letter code. See the EU VAT Number Format Guide for more information.
UK VAT Numbers are 9 or 12 numbers, sometimes with ‘GB’ at the start, like 123456789 or GB123456789.

Your VAT Number will be validated using the appropriate system (VIES for the EU, HMRC for the UK). It will only be accepted if its format is valid and active in the applicable system. Once you have entered a valid VAT Number, the VAT and total amount will be adjusted, and you will not be charged VAT on future invoices.

Canadian sales tax

To comply with Canadian tax regulations, Kinsta adds sales tax to invoices for customers located in Canada based on your billing address within Billing Details.

Canada has a federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) that applies across the country. Some provinces combine the GST with their provincial sales tax into a single Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), while others charge a separate provincial tax in addition to the GST. This means the percentage may vary from one province to the next. You can read more about GST/HST at the Canada Revenue Agency.

If you are a Canadian resident or your company is registered in Canada, we are obliged to apply GST/HST to your purchases, along with QST or PST if you are located in a province that requires it.

For example, the HST rate in Ontario is 13% at the time of writing. If you purchase a WP 2 plan (list price of $70 at the time of writing), your checkout total will be $79.10. This consists of the $70 list price and a 13% tax, which is $9.10. These items are shown separately on the checkout page and in your invoices and are added automatically based on the province you are located in.

Provinces affected by Canadian sales tax

Sales tax is calculated and applied based on the location where services are performed. We determine where our services are being used by looking at the address you provide when you sign up. Please make sure your billing address, including your province and postal code, is up to date in MyKinsta, as it determines the tax rate applied.

GST/HST will be applied to the invoices of customers in Canada at the following rates, unless an exemption applies:

5% GST in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon
13% HST in Ontario
14% HST in Nova Scotia
15% HST in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island

In addition to GST, the following provincial taxes will be applied:

Quebec Sales Tax (QST) of 9.975% for customers in Quebec. You can read more at Revenu Québec.
Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 7% for customers in British Columbia. You can read more at the Government of British Columbia.

Additional provinces may be added to this list over time. If it is determined that Kinsta will need to collect sales tax in an additional province, we will update affected customers prior to implementing the change.

GST/HST and QST registration numbers

Unlike EU and UK VAT numbers and Indian GSTINs, Canadian GST/HST and QST registration numbers do not change the amount of tax you are charged. Registered businesses pay GST/HST and QST on their Kinsta invoices and can claim it back through their own tax filings.

Canadian sales tax exemption

Most customers, including registered businesses, municipalities, universities, schools, hospitals, and charities, are charged Canadian sales tax as normal. Exemptions apply only in the following cases:

BC PST resale exemption: If you are located in British Columbia and resell Kinsta services to your own clients, you may be exempt from the 7% PST. To apply, send a completed BC PST Certificate of Exemption – General (FIN 490) to our Billing team. The 5% GST still applies.
Government entities: Federal government departments are charged GST/HST but are exempt from QST and BC PST. Government entities of Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories are exempt from GST/HST. All other provincial and territorial government entities pay GST/HST as normal.

Exemptions are only applied once we have a written exemption certificate on file and cannot be applied to past invoices.

For more information regarding tax exemptions, check with the Canada Revenue Agency or your provincial tax authority.

Indian GST (Goods and Services Tax)

To comply with tax regulations, Kinsta collects Indian GST (Goods and Services Tax) if you are a resident of India or if your company is registered in India.

GST is an indirect tax charged on most goods and services in India. Kinsta’s hosting service falls under India’s GST category of Online Information Database Access and Retrieval (OIDAR) services. The GST rate for OIDAR services is 18% at the time of writing.

GST exemption

If you add a valid GST Number in MyKinsta from the same state shown in your billing address, you will not be charged GST. You will still be responsible for reporting and paying GST on our services under the reverse charge mechanism in India.

If you’ve already added your GSTIN but your upcoming invoice still shows a GST charge, check the following:

Make sure the GSTIN is from the same state shown in your billing address.
Verify your number on the GST portal and make sure it is valid.

Add a GSTIN

You may add your GSTIN at any time within MyKinsta. From the Dashboard, click Company settings and then Billing Details. Enter your number in the GSTIN field and click Save changes. Your GSTIN will be validated and will only be accepted if its format is valid and active. To be considered valid, the GSTIN must be from the same state shown in your billing address.

Once you have entered a valid GSTIN, the GST and total amount will be adjusted, and you will not be charged GST on future invoices. Rather, you will be responsible for reporting and paying GST on our services under the reverse charge mechanism in India.

Nigerian VAT

To comply with local tax regulations, Kinsta collects Nigerian VAT from customers who reside in Nigeria or whose company is registered in Nigeria.

VAT is applied to most goods and services in Nigeria, including digital services such as Kinsta. The standard VAT rate in Nigeria is 7.5% and applies to all eligible customers.

For more information, refer to the Nigeria Revenue Service.

FAQs

Will taxes be refunded from past invoices?

Unfortunately, we cannot refund taxes collected prior to having exemption or zero-rate documentation on file. You are responsible for providing us with a copy of your tax exemption certificate, VAT number, or GSTIN at the time of purchase.

How do I obtain a VAT number, GST/HST/QST number, or GSTIN?

The process depends on where your business is registered.

EU VAT number: Regulations are different from country to country. Businesses may apply for a VAT number at any time, and businesses that meet a minimum income threshold are required to apply for one. To register, contact the tax authority in the EU country where your business is established. The European Commission’s Your Europe VAT guide explains the rules in each country, and you can check whether a VAT number is valid using the VIES VAT number validation tool. Note that many European countries issue national (non-EU) tax numbers or other tax identification numbers. These are not EU VAT numbers and cannot be used to reduce the amount of VAT to be paid.
UK VAT number: Businesses in the UK can register for VAT through HMRC on the UK Government website, which also explains when registration is required.
Canadian GST/HST number: Businesses can register for a GST/HST account through the Canada Revenue Agency. Businesses with more than $30,000 CAD in taxable sales over four consecutive quarters are generally required to register.
Quebec QST number: Businesses in Quebec can register for the QST through Revenu Québec.
Indian GSTIN: You can register for a GSTIN on India’s Goods & Services Tax website. For more information on the process, several user manuals and FAQs are available.

Note that, unlike EU and UK VAT numbers and Indian GSTINs, Canadian GST/HST and QST numbers do not reduce the tax charged on your Kinsta invoices. Registered businesses pay GST/HST and QST as normal and can claim it back through their own tax filings.

Why does Kinsta, a US company, collect VAT, GST, and other sales taxes outside the US?

In most cases, a company is only responsible for tax in a country where it has a permanent establishment. However, many countries require non-resident businesses that provide digital services to their residents to collect and remit tax, even if those businesses have no physical presence there. Even though Kinsta is located in the US, we are required to collect and remit tax in the following regions:

European Union: The EU applies VAT to electronically supplied services sold by non-EU companies to EU-based consumers, and US companies covered by this rule must collect and remit VAT to EU tax authorities. Learn more from the International Trade Administration.
United Kingdom: Any business supplying digital services to UK consumers must collect and remit UK VAT. Learn more from the UK Government.
Canada: Canada requires non-resident businesses selling digital services to Canadian customers to collect and remit GST/HST. Quebec and British Columbia have similar requirements for QST and PST.
India: India’s GST laws apply to Online Information Database Access and Retrieval (OIDAR) services provided to customers in India, including those provided by companies located outside India.
Nigeria: Nigeria requires non-resident companies providing digital services to customers in Nigeria to collect and remit VAT.