If you are a retail or manufacturing business, you know how important it is to follow the rules and regulations of VAT return submission. And we guess you also know that dealing with VAT compliance can be tough. And it especially happens when your business operates in multiple locations or branches. But don’t worry; we are going to talk about a few features of your VAT software that can solve your problem easily.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a very important financial aspect of a business. And if there is any error while submitting the return, it might be fatal for your business in many ways. Therefore, it is crucial you be extra careful about everything related to VAT return submission.
But how do you do that without making mistakes?
Here is why many companies use VAT return software to make things easier. But be careful; not all software is the same. We’ve seen lots of problems that you’ll want to avoid. Let’s talk about the top 5 things your VAT return software should do to simplify VAT compliance. But before that, let’s have a look at the importance of VAT return submission for your business.
Importance of VAT Return Submission
Understanding the importance of VAT return submission is crucial for you as a business owner or financial professional. It’s not just another administrative task; it plays a significant role in your business’s financial health and compliance. By submitting accurate VAT returns on time, you fulfil your legal obligations and avoid potential penalties and fines.
Imagine you run an e-commerce store selling goods. Each quarter, you need to submit VAT returns. Properly completed VAT returns ensure that you’ve accounted for the VAT you’ve collected from your customers and paid to the tax authorities. Failing to do so can lead to legal repercussions and harm your business reputation.
Moreover, timely VAT return submission allows you to claim VAT credits on business expenses. And without any doubt, it can lead to potential cost savings. This extra cash flow can be reinvested in your business, helping it grow and thrive. So, never underestimate the importance of VAT return submission; it keeps your business compliant, financially sound, and poised for success.
5 Mandatory Features for Your VAT Return Submission Software
When it comes to VAT return submission, having the right software can make a difference. It can streamline your entire compliance process. To ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience, ensure your VAT return software includes these five essential features. Let’s explore how they can transform your VAT submission journey.
1. Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts
When you’re running a business in today’s fast-paced global environment, staying on top of tax compliance can be overwhelming. Instead of figuring out all your obligations manually, make sure your VAT return software supports you with real-time monitoring and helpful alerts.
Picture this: You’re a business owner with operations in multiple locations. Your VAT return software acts like a vigilant assistant, keeping track of all the VAT compliance requirements for each country. It’s like having a reliable partner who taps you on the shoulder and says, “Hey, it’s time to register for VAT in this new country!” or “Don’t forget, the deadline for filing in that country is approaching!”
This smart software goes beyond a regular calendar. It’s like having a personal reminder system that ensures you and your team never miss important deadlines or overlook critical tasks. For example, imagine your business expanding to a new market. Your VAT return software will promptly notify you when you need to register for VAT in that country, sparing you from any last-minute scrambles.
Moreover, this proactive software will highlight potential risks, giving you a heads-up to take preventive actions. It’s like having a watchful friend who cares about your business’s success and wants to shield you from unnecessary problems. For instance, if a change in tax regulations could affect your business, your VAT return software will let you know, allowing you to adapt quickly and stay compliant.
By relying on this user-friendly software with real-time monitoring and alerts, you can stay ahead of your VAT responsibilities, ensuring smooth operations and avoiding any hassles, penalties, or sleepless nights over tax compliance.
2. Streamlines Your Data Collection
When dealing with VAT compliance, you likely find it time-consuming to manually collect and organize data from various sources. To simplify this process for you, your VAT return software should streamline data collection. It will gather all the necessary data, such as sales and purchase transactions, and organize it in a way that makes sense to you. This ensures accuracy and reduces the chances of errors. The software should adjust to your preferred formats, saving you time from manual adjustments.
For example, imagine you run an online business that sells products to customers in different countries. Your VAT return software should automatically retrieve sales data from your e-commerce platform, track relevant purchase transactions, and compile all the information into a clear and organized format. Doing so ensures that your VAT data is up-to-date and accurate, making the compliance process much more efficient and stress-free for you.
3. Validate Your Data and Automate Calculations and Filings
If you’re part of a finance or in-house tax team, you know how overwhelming it can be to handle all the tasks with limited time and resources. That’s why it’s crucial to have advanced and intelligent VAT and tax compliance software that acts as an additional resource to support you.
Your VAT return and tax technology should be smart enough to validate your business and finance data using common sense and tax-specific logic. It should automatically flag any concerns about data quality, saving you time from manual reviews and reducing the risk of human errors.
Moreover, the software should handle the heavy lifting for you. It should automatically calculate your VAT positions and potential liabilities for each filing. This means it takes care of most of the work without requiring constant human input. The software should generate VAT returns and filings on time, providing you with helpful insights on attention points and potential issues to review. This way, you can focus on important matters without worrying about missing deadlines or facing penalties due to exhaustive manual data reviews. The software serves as a reliable ally in managing your tax compliance efficiently.
4. Single Source of VAT Data
You might have heard of the concept of a “Single Source of Truth,”. Have you? It may seem like an ideal scenario for most organizations and finance functions. But it’s worth exploring how your VAT compliance and tax technology can create this single source of tax truth. However, the benefits and drawbacks of scattered tax information are substantial.
Imagine having a single platform where you manage all your financial data, use it to make tax adjustments, collaborate with both internal team members and external advisors, generate tax returns, and maintain a complete audit trail. On top of that, you can store all your relevant information, such as working papers, evidence for submissions, and payment confirmations, in one place. This single source of truth ensures that you always have access to the necessary information, both now and in the future.
Let’s say your company has operations in multiple countries, and you need to comply with various VAT regulations. Having a single source of truth means that all the relevant financial data for each country’s VAT filings is organized and easily accessible in one system. It allows your tax team to work efficiently, collaborate seamlessly, and quickly generate accurate tax returns. Moreover, you can easily provide the necessary documentation during an audit, saving time and reducing the risk of non-compliance.
Ultimately, this unified approach saves valuable time and resources for your entire organization, minimizing information gaps and mitigating tax-related risks. It ensures you have a clear and reliable picture of your tax compliance. Besides, it helps you make your VAT and tax processes much smoother and more effective.
5. User-friendly Interface and Support
When choosing VAT return software, ensure it offers a user-friendly interface and excellent support. You want software that’s easy to use, so you and your finance team can quickly get started without extensive training. It should be accessible to anyone inside and outside your team to ensure smooth collaboration.
For instance, imagine you have a new team member joining your finance department. They can easily navigate and use the software without much guidance if the software is user-friendly. This saves time and resources on training and allows the new member to contribute to the VAT compliance process. Moreover, it immediately boosts overall team morale and work quality.
Furthermore, look for tax technology that promotes collaboration in one central place. Features like leaving comments, assigning tasks, and tracking who works on specific tax filings foster effective teamwork. When multiple team members or external advisors are involved, this functionality ensures everyone is on the same page and can easily coordinate their efforts.
For example, let’s say your company has different departments responsible for specific tax-related tasks. With collaborative VAT return software, each team member can leave notes and update the status of their tasks. This way, everyone is aware of the progress and can work together seamlessly, even when there are changes within the team.
Having a user-friendly interface and collaborative support in your VAT return software will lead to smoother compliance processes over time and help your team efficiently manage all tax-related tasks.
To conclude, VAT return submission is very important for your business. But it is really difficult to manage the submission without any mistakes manually. However, a comprehensive VAT solution can simplify the process. Before choosing your VAT solution, ensure it comes with the right features we discussed earlier.
Looking for the Best VAT Solution?
Explore Southtech’s EasyVAT
