Electronic invoicing and fiscalisation requirements mean that tax data is now created, validated and shared at the moment a transaction happens. That shifts tax compliance away from month-end and into the everyday processes of sales, purchasing and finance.
Treat it as a process change
Systems matter, but most issues arise from processes: who raises invoices, how credit notes are handled, how customer and supplier details are maintained and how exceptions are resolved. Map these flows before choosing or changing systems.
Reconcile early and often
Electronic invoice data, the general ledger and the VAT return should tell the same story. Regular reconciliations surface gaps — missing invoices, mismatched tax codes or duplicate records — while they are still easy to fix.
Check the purchase side too
Expense deductibility and input tax claims may depend on suppliers issuing compliant invoices. Build checks into the purchase-to-pay process so non-compliant invoices are caught before they are paid.
Look for automation, carefully
Automation can reduce manual work and errors, but only once the underlying process and data are reliable. Start with the highest-volume, most repetitive steps and keep clear controls and audit trails.
Questions to ask
- Do our invoicing and tax reporting systems share the same master data?
- Who owns exceptions, and how quickly are they resolved?
- Can we trace a figure on the VAT return back to individual invoices?
- Which manual steps could safely be automated?
Our tax technology and process improvement service helps finance teams answer these questions and close the gaps.
This article is general information and is not tax advice. Talk to us about your specific circumstances.