Dapple is not the merchant of record for any transactions and does not process payments directly — Stripe does. This means you, the organisation, are responsible for calculating, collecting, and remitting any taxes on submission fees, tips, or other payments. Dapple provides tools to help (VAT/GST collection on forms, tax reports via your Stripe dashboard), but it does not provide tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax advisor for your specific obligations.
What's Dapple's tax role?
Dapple is a software platform. We're not the merchant of record on any transaction. We don't process payments, hold funds, issue refunds, or handle disputes — Stripe does all of that. This matters for tax because the tax responsibility sits with you (and your relationship with Stripe), not with Dapple.
Income tax
Any money you earn through Dapple — submission fees, ticket sales, tip jar contributions — is generally subject to income tax in your country. We recommend:
Check your local tax regulations to understand how income from submissions or tips should be reported.
Keep records of all payments received via Dapple. Stripe's dashboard is the source of truth.
Talk to a qualified tax advisor about your specific obligations, especially if you're operating internationally or as a registered charity.
Sales tax / VAT / GST
Dapple provides tools to add VAT, GST, or other sales taxes to your submission forms when applicable. However:
It's your responsibility to determine when sales tax applies, what rate to apply, and to remit collected tax to the relevant authority.
Many regions have specific thresholds determining when you must register, collect, and remit sales tax — including thresholds for cross-border transactions.
We recommend consulting a tax advisor familiar with the jurisdictions where your buyers live, especially if you sell internationally.
Helpful starting point: many tax authorities publish 'digital services' or 'platform sales' guidance specific to organisations selling online. Search for your country plus 'digital services tax' or 'platform VAT obligations'.
How to download tax reports
You can download detailed tax and earnings reports directly from your Stripe account:
Open Dapple → Settings → Payments.
Click View Stripe Account.
In Stripe, navigate to Reports → Tax (or similar).
Filter by date range and download the report you need.
Stripe's reports cover transaction totals, fees, refunds, and tax collected. This is the data you'll typically need for your accountant.
FAQs
Question | Answer |
Does Dapple collect tax on my behalf? | No. As an organisation, you're responsible for handling any applicable sales tax or VAT. Dapple is not the merchant of record, so we can't collect or remit taxes for you. |
Do I need to add all my buyers' locations when setting up sales tax? | It depends on your location, where you're tax-registered, and the rules in the countries where your buyers are. Many regions have specific thresholds. Consult a tax advisor. |
Are tips taxable income? | Yes — tips received through Dapple are generally treated as taxable income. Report them as you would any other income, in line with your local tax law. |
Can Dapple act as the merchant of record? | No. Dapple is software, not a merchant of record. Stripe handles payment processing; you are the merchant from a tax perspective. |
Where can I get tax advice? | Dapple doesn't provide tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional familiar with your specific situation. |
Best practice
Talk to a tax professional before launching a paid project — once entries start coming in, you're already on the hook.
Keep all your Stripe reports — annual download is a sensible habit for any organisation collecting payments.
If you're VAT/GST-registered, build the tax into your fee or add it as a separate line item depending on local custom.
Document your tax approach in writing so your team applies it consistently across projects.
Where to go next