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The honest EU guide

How to accept payments in the EU without a company

Two different questions get tangled together here: "can I get paid without a company?" (yes, today) and "what about tax and registration?" (separate, and still yours). Most pages answer one and dodge the other. Here's both, straight.

Getting paid: yes, as an individual, today

You don't need a registered company to accept card payments in the EU. A payment facilitator can onboard you as an individual/sole trader: on paas.build you get a real merchant account the same session via progressive KYB, live immediately with a cap (~£1,500) while verification completes. Cards + SEPA Direct Debit, subscriptions, 3.9% flat. You stay the merchant - your name on the checkout, your customer.

Tax and registration: separate, and still yours

This is where honesty matters. Being able to accept money is not the same as being registered or tax-compliant:
  • Most EU countries let you operate as an individual/sole trader, but you must declare the income and may need to register locally once you cross thresholds.
  • For digital products/services sold B2C across the EU, the €10,000 cross-border threshold triggers charging VAT at the buyer's rate (typically handled via the OSS scheme). Below it, your local rules apply.
  • B2B cross-border is usually reverse-charged (the business buyer accounts for VAT).

Who should pick what

The honest part on tax. paas.build is a payment facilitator - you stay the merchant, which means VAT/sales tax is your responsibility. We give you the transaction data and invoicing hooks; we do not calculate, collect or remit tax for you. If having tax fully handled matters more than fees and owning your customer, a Merchant of Record is the honest choice - we'll tell you when.

If you want to test whether anyone will pay - go live today as an individual and keep your margin and your customer. If your #1 need is "never think about EU VAT," that's the Merchant-of-Record trade: they handle tax, you give up the customer relationship and ~5-10% - compare honestly here.
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FAQ

Can I accept payments in the EU without a registered company?

Yes - as an individual/sole trader. A PayFac like paas.build onboards you with a real, capped merchant account the same session (progressive KYB), so you can start taking card and SEPA payments immediately. You remain responsible for declaring income and meeting local tax rules.

Do I need to charge VAT if I sell digital products in the EU?

For B2C digital sales across EU borders, once you pass the €10,000 cross-border threshold you generally charge VAT at the buyer's country rate, usually filed via the OSS scheme; below it your local rules apply. B2B is typically reverse-charged. paas.build gives you the data and invoicing but does not remit VAT - that stays with you (or with a Merchant of Record if you want it handled).

Is it legal to accept payments as an individual in Europe?

Yes - operating as a sole trader/individual is recognized across the EU and UK. The payment rails run on UniPaaS, an FCA-authorised Payment Institution; you handle your own tax and any local registration.

What is the difference between getting paid and handling VAT?

Getting paid is the payment rail (a PayFac gives you that instantly). VAT is tax law - separate, and your responsibility with a PayFac. A Merchant of Record bundles both by becoming the seller, at a higher effective cost and the loss of your direct customer relationship.

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