What is VAT return (btw-aangifte)? Meaning and explanation

In the VAT return, a business reports per period, usually quarterly and sometimes monthly or annually, how much VAT it charged and how much input VAT it may deduct. It pays the difference to, or receives it back from, the Tax Administration. The return is divided into boxes, including domestic supplies, reverse-charge VAT and supplies within and outside the EU.

For a firm, VAT deadlines are the biggest peaks of the year. The return is only as good as the processing underneath: missing invoices, wrong VAT codes or unbooked receipts lead to an incorrect return and later to corrections. The earlier in the quarter processing is up to date and client questions are answered, the less pressure builds around the deadline.

Autoboeker prepares the entries underlying the VAT return with VAT recognition and checks for missing VAT, deviating VAT codes and deviating VAT amounts, for all four packages. For Exact Online there is also VAT analysis and reporting: the VAT position per administration and per period, in real time, and a VAT overview in the client portal. You file the return itself through your own software.