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Description

VAT in Accounting: Recording, Reconciling and Justifying Balances

Produce reliable VAT entries and justify every balance at the time of filing

  • 0.43 days — 3 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

VAT is settled as much in the accounts as in the tax return. VAT output or input accounts that never clear, recurring gaps between the return and the general ledger, rates incorrectly configured in the sales journal: such anomalies often remain unresolved until an audit. Accounting teams then spend considerable time reconstructing historical positions.

This three-hour introductory session sets out the VAT accounting cycle from invoice to payment. It puts in place the periodic controls that make it possible to reconcile the return with the accounting records and to justify each balance without laborious reconstruction.

Learning objectives

  • Identify VAT accounts and their role in the accounting cycle
  • Record VAT on routine purchase and sale transactions
  • Post the entries relating to the VAT return and its payment
  • Reconcile VAT accounts with the periodic VAT return
  • Justify VAT balances at period end

What makes this programme different

The reconciliation between general ledger and VAT return is performed step by step on a set of entries
Frequent anomalies are reproduced and then corrected during the session
A balance justification template is built during the programme

Programme

1The VAT accounting cycle

Tracking the tax from invoice to payment

  • Output VAT, input VAT and VAT payable accounts
  • Tax point and chargeability seen from the accounting entry
  • Configuring rates in the journals
  • Treatment of advance payments and credit notes

2Recording routine transactions

Handling day-to-day situations

  • Purchases and sales subject to different treatments and rates
  • Exempt and out-of-scope transactions
  • Non-recoverable VAT and adjustments
  • Entries for the VAT return and its settlement

3Controlling and justifying balances

Making the VAT position verifiable

  • Reconciling the general ledger with the VAT return
  • Analysing variances and tracing their causes
  • Adjustments and treatment of residual balances
  • Building the justification file

Who is it for

Accountants, accounts assistants and administrative staff responsible for posting and monitoring VAT accounts.

Prerequisites

Working knowledge of routine accounting entries for purchases and sales.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.