The FTC rule lets government charges such as sales tax sit outside the all-in ticket price, as long as they are disclosed before payment. The 10% booking fee is not a tax. It belongs in the first price. Whether your event owes sales tax, and in which state, is a question for your accountant. This page does not answer it.
Where does sales tax sit next to the booking fee?
For US organizers. Numbers checked in November 2026.
The buyer total
Put the all-in price in the first number a fan sees.
Payout from the sale
Two business days from the sale. Not after the show.
Door scan
A phone browser validates the QR code.
How it works
- 1
Write the total
Face value plus the booking fee, before you announce the show.
- 2
Publish one checkout
Tiers, capacity, and a link you can send today.
- 3
Sell the first tickets
The sale date starts the payout clock.
What to look for
Tiers and codes
Early bird, general admission, guest list, and promo codes.
Sales in one view
Tickets sold, refunds, and scans.
One-time QR codes
A second scan of the same code is rejected.
The answer
The FTC rule lets government charges such as sales tax sit outside the all-in ticket price, as long as they are disclosed before payment. The 10% booking fee is not a tax. It belongs in the first price. Whether your event owes sales tax, and in which state, is a question for your accountant. This page does not answer it.
A worked example
You advertise $27.50 fees included. If a state tax applies, the checkout can add that tax as its own line before the buyer pays. You still keep the $25 face value. You do not add the tax into the 10% or skip showing it.
What to do next
Ask the accountant which states you sell into. Then show the tax line. Do not hide the booking fee behind the tax question.
Fits many event types
Clubs and concerts
Independent rooms that do not have a venue-mandated vendor.
Parties
A page, a price, and a door list.
Conferences
Several ticket types and a scan at each room.
Understand the real cost: 0% organizer fee.
Organizers keep the ticket price. Buyers pay 10%, and card processing is included.
See pricing and fees →Frequently asked questions
What does the buyer pay on a $25 ticket?
A $25 ticket is $27.50. The organizer keeps $25. Card processing is inside the 10%. Ticket Tailor can be lower. On a $25 ticket the buyer pays about $26.68 if Stripe's domestic 2.9% + 30¢ is passed through on that one ticket. Tickean is $27.50, in one line, and the organizer does not run a Stripe account.
When does the organizer get paid?
Within 2 business days of the sale. A business day is a weekday that is not a US public holiday. The bank posts the credit on its own clock.
Is there a monthly fee?
No monthly fee and no sign-up fee. A free ticket is $0. A written rate replaces the 10%. It does not sit on top of it.
Sources & references
- Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees — Federal Register (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Understanding your Form 1099-K — IRS (accessed 2026-11-05)
Need to sell tickets too?
If the model fits, create your event in minutes. 0% organizer fee. Payout of the ticket price is initiated within 2 business days of the sale.
Last updated: November 5, 2026