Step-by-Step Guide: Value Added Tax (VAT) Filing
Note: The VAT Return Form sheet is auto-populated based on your Sales and Purchases sheets. Do NOT attempt to manually unhide or edit it, as this will corrupt the file for upload.
VAT filing is now “Schedule-based,” meaning your Excel data builds your return automatically.
Step 1: Download & Explanatory Notes
1. From the dashboard, select Self Tax Filing, select the “earliest VAT liability” under “Taxes Due”, and click “File Now.”
2. Download the VAT Template. Do not attempt to fill the “VAT Return Form” sheet manually.
Step 2: Filling the Sales Sheet
1. Enter every sale. In the “Product Category” column, you must use these codes:
- 0: Vatable Items
- 1: Exempt Items
- 2: Zero-Rated Items
2. Select the State and LGA for the “Place of Consumption.”
Step 3: Claiming Input VAT (Purchases List)
1. Navigate to the “Purchases List” sheet.
2. Enter the Seller’s Name, Seller’s Tax ID, and the Purchase Amount. The system will automatically calculate the allowable Input VAT.
Step 4: Sales Adjustments & MDAs
1. If you had returned goods, use the “Sales Adjustment” sheet.
2. If a Government Agency (MDA) withheld your VAT, enter those details in the “MDA Sheet” to ensure you aren’t double-charged.