Case 5. Adjusting VAT for the written off customer bad debt

A company can adjust (decrease) the accrued output VAT amount if the following happens:

• The company writes off the customer bad debt and notifies the customer about it.
• The goods / services have been received by the customer.
• No payment was received after more than 6 months from the shipment date. 

The company should create the following documents:

1. Credit note in the amount of the written off debt.
2. Output VAT transaction in the same amount.
3. Tax credit note based on the output VAT transaction.

How to process

Where: Sales > Sales Documents >  Credit Notes

Create a credit note for the written off customer debt as follows:

1.  On the list of existing credit notes, click Create. The Credit Note (Create) form opens.  
2. On the Main tab in the Company field, select the customer company.
3. In the Type field, select Mutual Settlements Adjustment.
4. In the Amount field, specify the written off amount.
   
   
5. Click Save to save the document and to assign it the number.
6. On the Documents tab, click Add to append a line.
7. In the Advance column, make sure a check box is selected.
8. In the Contract column, specify the contract with customer for which this writeoff was done.
9. In the Accounts Amount column, enter the writeoff amount.
   
10. Click Save and then Post.

Where: Accounting > Value Added Tax > Output VAT  Transactions

Create an output VAT transaction in the written off amount to decrease the total output VAT as follows:

1. Click Create to create a new Output VAT Transaction.
2. In the Company box, select the customer.
3. In the Transaction Type field, select Invoice.
4. In the Adjustment Type field, select Decrease.
5. Make sure the link below the fields contains Prices Include VAT. Otherwise, click the link to open the Prices and Currency dialog box, select the Prices Include VAT check box there, and close the dialog box.
   
6. In the Basis field, select the credit note with writeoff.
7. Click Save to assign the number to this document.
8. On the Inventory/Services tab, click Add to append a new line.
9. In the Contents column enter any comment for the transaction, for instance Debt writeoff.
10. In the Amount column, enter the written off amount about which your company has notified the customer.
11. In the VAT, % column, select the standard rate, 5% Rate.
    
12. Click Post to register the document in the system.

Create a tax credit note based on the output VAT transaction.

1. On the Main tab at the bottom, click the Generate Tax Credit Note button. A link to the generated tax credit note appears. Click it to review the document.