Source provenance

VAT data methodology

VAT Engine uses the European Commission’s Taxes in Europe Database (TEDB) as an upstream source for supported VAT-rate and SME-threshold data, then preserves source date context and maps reviewed categories into product-facing tax classes.

What this helps you do

Make the data lineage and its limitations visible before an API result is used in a customer or accounting workflow.

Official-source capture with immutable review and approval controls.
Source-supported rate intervals remain separate from retrieval and approval time.
Merchant-facing tax-class mapping is documented separately from the upstream source.
Approved source versions are used for covered dates; public version pinning and exact replay remain planned, and VAT Engine does not replace official publications or professional review.

How to use it well

Start with the upstream source

VAT Engine uses the European Commission’s TEDB import as a source input and retains source-supported interval evidence behind reviewed versions.

Distinguish observed and legal dates

Retrieval and approval times are audit facts, not claims that a rate legally began then. Source applicability remains a separate field.

Trace material decisions

For operational use, retain the request facts, returned rate context, and any human classification decision together.