Bench + VAT Return: Complete Workflow
Preparing for vat return and using Bench? Quarterly VAT returns require matching bank transactions to sales and purchase invoices. Working from PDF statements adds unnecessary time to an already tight deadline. BankScan AI bridges the gap between your bank's PDF statements and Bench's import feature.
BankScan AI → Bench for VAT Return
Convert bank statement PDFs to CSV formatted for Bench import. Convert bank statements to Excel to quickly identify VAT-bearing transactions, match against invoices, and prepare your VAT return accurately.
How It Works
Upload your bank statement PDF
Supports all major banks. Upload 3 months per VAT quarter (standard scheme); 12 months for annual accounting scheme users of statements.
AI formats for Bench
Output as CSV with Date, Description, Amount — Bench bookkeepers handle column mapping during their review process — dates in MM/DD/YYYY.
Import and use for vat return
Upload into Bench and use the reconciled data for vat return.
Supported Banks
BankScan AI works with all major UK and US banks, including:
Bench + VAT Return Features
- Bench ready — Output formatted as CSV matching Bench's expected column structure
- Smart integration — Bench bookkeepers can use BankScan AI's pre-structured data to speed up categorisation, reducing the typical 5-day turnaround to 1-2 days for historical catch-up bookkeeping.
- Built for VAT Return — Convert bank statements to Excel to quickly identify VAT-bearing transactions, match against invoices, and prepare your VAT return accurately.
Import for VAT Return into Bench
After converting your bank statements for vat return:
- Share BankScan AI's converted CSV files with your Bench bookkeeper via the Bench portal
- They import the data into your Bench account for categorisation and reconciliation
Common Import Issues
Bench's human bookkeepers handle most import issues. Main challenge is when bank feeds disconnect — BankScan AI serves as the backup data source for gap periods.
Bench Import for VAT Return
VAT returns due 1 month and 7 days after the end of the VAT quarter; late submission triggers a surcharge of up to 15% of VAT owed under the default surcharge regime
Convert for Bench + VAT Return