Why do you need a VAT number for audio ads in the UK? It stinks of big label bias

[LegPuppy]

I dont understand why this is, what about the little labels who dont do it or the money but need exposure

[Guido]

Hey @LegPuppy.

Thanks for your message!

If you would like to advertise on Spotify, we suggest you head over to the Spotify Ad Studio. Here you can find an FAQ section that should help you out 🙂

Hope you have a nice day!

[Correct]

Spotify needs to dump the VAT requirement. Ridiculous gatekeeping. Most indies wouldn't earn the threshhold required to warrant VAT. Get rid. Implement QA department to check quality of adverts before green-lighting if you're worried about that.

[VikingSword]

Agreed. This policy stinks.

[simply_good4]

So true!!!! 😭 I wanted to promote my song but this VAT didn’t allow me to do this, I don’t have a VAT cuz I’m an independent artist, cmon Spotify, do something!

[dariomoving]

They also require a VAT number for Spain.  So self produced artists can't use Spotify Ad Studio. A shame. I wrote to them about this and they only gave excuses. They said they would work on a solution, but no one asked to get my email to update me on a change. I told them Facebook Ads and Google Ads don't ask for VAT.  Spotify's legal person has his facts wrong.  Also, Spotify doesn't accept PayPal and doesn't accept a credit card from a different country than where your IP.  So I opened a US ad studio account, which doesn't require the stupid VAT but then they wouldn't take my european credit card. Then to make things worst it wouldn't allow me to change my country in the account.  Spotify ad studio is just not "non business" customer oriented.  Aren't they in dept? So why don't they get their act together?   [Español]  Para hacer publicidad en Spotify te van a pedir numero de VAT  (piden VAT)

[Alex]

Hi folks,

Thanks for your posts.

For any questions about Ad Studio and running ads on Spotify, please refer to the Support Page. You're also welcome to contant the Ad Studio customer support team, they'll be happy to help.

Hope you find this info useful. Don't hesitate to reach out again.

Take care!

[marksmutz]

pointless reply from the moderator Alex ..... there are 30,000 independent bands/artists in the UK who all trade as Sole Traders and turn over less than £85,000.00 per annum and therefore are not Vat Registered and do not require a VAT number , clearly the 7.5 million pounds worth of revenue you would generate per annum from them if they all only did one campaign at £250 each .... is less important than you continuing to screw over Independent Artists and Labels in favour of the Majors  . . . cheers Dan, you're all heart ..... p.s. if you post a generic reply ...I will make it my life mission to get everyone I know : to delete  their subscription  . . . so just dont !

[marksmutz]

clearly they have still got restrictive deals with the Majors, otherwise why would they pretend to not understand UK Tax Law ?

[ollienew]

This is nonsense. By requiring a VAT number you are placating independent musicians. 

[marksmutz]

about as useful as a chocolaté fire engine  . . . 

[ollienew]

I got a response from Spotify on this:

'Currently, our billing system is not configured to charge tax in the UK, which is required of non-registered businesses.

Our product team is working to set up this capability, and we hope to be able to open Ad Studio to more customers in the UK later this year.'

Will believe it when I see it, been going on for years. 

[marksmutz]

standard nonsense reply "working"  a two year old could add that option in a heartbeat !

[highlandmoss]

Spotify, have you got any further with a workaround for this? We just spent hours putting an ad together only to find on the next screen we are blocked due to the VAT issue. A frustrating waste of time if we can't then get our ad running!

[marksmutz]

the **bleep** that presses the button to change the setting is on holiday,
permanently 😡

[gordonchi]

We are a registered charity so we don't have a VAT number. Hence we cannot advertise on Spotify 😞

[OscarDC]

Hi folks,

Thanks for reaching out to the Community.

Remember that if you have further questions about Spotify's advertising, or have specific questions about payment methods, you can always refer to the Ad Studio page. You can also contact the Ad Studio customer support team, who will be happy to help.

Hope this helps. If anything else comes up, we’re just a post away.

Take care!

[RebelCamp]

Even now in 2023, this issue has not still been looked into. Tried creating an Ad from here in the UK but ran into the very same VAT roadblock and so I contacted their customer support team. Shocking that they are still giving the same excuse after five years: "Our product team is working to set up this capability and we hope to be able to open Ad Studio to more customers in the future".

Very disappointing indeed

[jonathanjmerrifield]

Total inequality at a time when that's all companies bang on about.

[beaverbaz]

Yep, just had exactly the same exchange. Ridiculous.