{"id":93025,"date":"2024-09-26T09:35:54","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T07:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/forgot-to-file-a-vat-return\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T13:14:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T11:14:25","slug":"forgot-to-file-a-vat-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/blog\/forgot-to-file-a-vat-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Forgot to file a VAT return?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This can happen, faster than you think. We will first give some examples of how you might find yourself in such a situation and then provide the solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How can one forget to file a VAT return?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can think of a few situations. Here are some examples that we have encountered through Dexxter support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You thought you had started your self-employment at the beginning of quarter 2. There was some ambiguity and the enterprise counter staff already activated your business at the end of quarter 1.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You change from an accountant to Dexxter towards the end of a quarter. The accountant assumes you file the VAT return and you vice versa. Good agreements make good friends!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You start an independent activity with a VAT exemption &#8211; or at least you think so. It turns out that you are subject to VAT and have already missed one (or more) VAT return deadline(s).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to solve this?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Forgetting a VAT return is not a disaster, but file the late return as soon as possible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First check whether you need to declare something in that\/those forgotten VAT return(s). Because even in late VAT returns you still have to declare the income and expenses of that period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Often these are &#8211; due to a mistake in the start date &#8211; returns for quarters before you actually started working as a self-employed person. Then you have to file a blank VAT return for that period, which you still have to actually file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>There is no special procedure <\/strong>for filing late VAT returns. You can follow the regular steps in Dexxter.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id42076_1ed158-00 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id42076_1ed158-00 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id42076_1ed158-00 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:826px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(30% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(70% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem) * 1 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kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle\">\n<style>.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column42076_6bc331-95{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > 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.wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column42076_6bc331-95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column42076_6bc331-95\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Tips-template-21.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-28040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Tips-template-21.png 300w, https:\/\/dexxter.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Tips-template-21-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column42076_d7444c-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column42076_d7444c-10\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>There is no special procedure <\/strong>to file late VAT returns. You can <a href=\"http:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/taxes-and-vat\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"55820\">follow the regular steps in Dexxter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Will I have to pay a fine?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes you do, the fine is \u20ac100 per return and per month of delay. One forgotten VAT return or two, it quickly makes a big difference!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But with a maximum of \u20ac1,000. So far the fine for the late filing of a return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, you &#8211; possibly &#8211; had to pay VAT in those late VAT returns. You will now pay that VAT later than if you would have filed on time. That&#8217;s why the VAT authorities will charge interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That interest amounts to <strong>around 8% on an annual basis<\/strong>, which is quite something!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can I get an overview somewhere?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you have to pay a fine and\/or interest, you may lose track of how much you still have to pay to the VAT authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fortunately, the VAT authorities provide <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/766408719\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an overview<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can I challenge fines?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If exceptional circumstances prevented you from filing a return, and you were acting in good faith, it&#8217;s always worth contacting the VAT authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They may &#8211; by hearing your side of the story &#8211; reduce or even waive the fine for late filing. However, you will always have to pay the VAT amount and the interest charged.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This can happen, faster than you think. We will first give some examples of how you might find yourself in such a situation and then provide the solution. How can one forget to file a VAT return? We can think of a few situations. Here are some examples that we have encountered through Dexxter support. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":42085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-no-category"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93025"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93025\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93026,"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93025\/revisions\/93026"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dexxter.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}