Sage + VAT Return: Complete Workflow
Preparing for vat return and using Sage? 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 Sage's import feature.
BankScan AI → Sage for VAT Return
Convert bank statement PDFs to CSV formatted for Sage 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 Sage
Output as CSV with Date, Details/Reference, Paid in, Paid out — Sage requires separate debit and credit columns rather than a single signed amount — dates in DD/MM/YYYY.
Import and use for vat return
Upload into Sage and use the reconciled data for vat return.
Supported Banks
BankScan AI works with all major UK and US banks, including:
Sage + VAT Return Features
- Sage ready — Output formatted as CSV matching Sage's expected column structure
- Smart integration — Sage's bank reconciliation remembers previous matching rules, so repeat transactions from the same payee are auto-suggested for the same nominal code.
- 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 Sage
After converting your bank statements for vat return:
- In Sage Accounting, go to Banking > select your bank account > Import statement
- Upload the CSV, confirm column mapping (Date, Details, Paid in, Paid out), and import
Common Import Issues
Sage requires separate Paid in/Paid out columns — a single Amount column will fail. Also rejects imports where the date column contains time stamps.
Sage 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 Sage + VAT Return