Can I correct the value added tax retrospectively as well?
May 7, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Günther Hering
Dear tax advisor,
I recently realized that I made a mistake in my VAT return and paid too much value-added tax. I am a small business owner and therefore did not separately show the VAT. Now I wonder if it is possible to correct the VAT retrospectively and receive a refund.
The background is that in recent months, I have incurred more expenses for my business on which I have paid VAT. However, since I do not show VAT on my invoices, I could not claim this as input tax. Due to my mistake in the VAT return, I have now paid too much VAT and am in a worse financial situation than I had anticipated.
My concern is that due to my mistake, I am facing financial losses and do not know how to recover the overpaid VAT. I fear that my business could face financial difficulties as I urgently need the refund.
Therefore, my question is: Is it possible to correct the VAT retrospectively and receive a refund? What steps do I need to take and what documents are required? Are there any deadlines that I need to adhere to in order to receive the corrected VAT refund?
Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Best regards,
Theodor Reimann
Dear Mr. Reimann,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the correction of your sales tax pre-registration and the possible refund of overpaid value-added tax. It is indeed possible to correct errors in the sales tax pre-registration and receive a refund, even as a small business owner.
To receive the overpaid value-added tax refund, you must submit a corrected sales tax pre-registration to the tax office. In this corrected pre-registration, you provide the correct numbers and show the overpaid value-added tax. It is important that you clearly and comprehensibly explain the reasons for the correction and, if necessary, attach relevant documents to support your information.
As a small business owner, you are exempt from sales tax, however, you still have the right to claim input tax if you can provide purchase invoices showing value-added tax. You can then offset this input tax against the overpaid sales tax and receive a refund.
There are no fixed deadlines by which the correction of the sales tax pre-registration must be made, however, you should do this promptly to avoid any further financial disadvantages. The sooner you act, the sooner you will receive a refund.
For the correction of your sales tax pre-registration and the refund of the overpaid value-added tax, I recommend you seek advice from a tax advisor. They can professionally advise you, help you with the preparation of the corrected pre-registration, and ensure that all necessary steps are carried out correctly.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you and wish you success in correcting your sales tax pre-registration and receiving a refund of the overpaid value-added tax.
Best regards,
Günther Hering
