---
title: Submitting your VAT return from Xero
description: Submitting your VAT return from Xero
---
[Skip to content](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/submitting-your-vat-return-from-xero#main-content)
[](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/)
- [Help Centre](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/)
Open main navigation
Close main navigation
- [Help Centre](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/)
- [Login](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/login/)
[Login](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/login/)
How can we help you?
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
1. [Accounting Service](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service?hsLang=en-gb)
2. [Using Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb)
3. [Xero for VAT and Payroll](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#xero-for-vat-and-payroll)
# Submitting your VAT return from Xero
## How your VAT return is submitted - explained
Your VAT return is built automatically in Xero from the transactions you have entered. We review the figures, present them for your approval, and submit directly to HMRC via Making Tax Digital.
### The VAT return screen
Go to ‘Accounting’, then ‘Tax’, then ‘VAT Returns’. Your current open return period is shown with the figures populated from your transactions. Box 1 shows output VAT, Box 4 shows input VAT, and Box 5 shows the net amount to pay. We review this screen before submission.
### Approving the return
Once we present the return for review, check that Box 6 (total sales) and Box 7 (total purchases) look consistent with what you have invoiced and spent in the quarter. If anything looks wrong, tell us before approving. After your approval, we submit to HMRC and forward you the confirmation.
💡 **Good to know:** The VAT return can only be submitted for periods where all transactions are fully reconciled. If your bank has outstanding unmatched transactions, the return figures may be incomplete. Complete your bank reconciliation before we start preparing each return.
### Not found what you're looking for?
Please get in touch and we'll be happy to help:
**Email:** You can submit a request using our [contact form](https://forms.1stformations.co.uk/contact/)
**Phone:** 020 3897 2233
**Live Chat:** Select the live chat icon on the bottom right
- [Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Understanding Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#understanding-your-plan)
- [Compliance Included in Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#compliance-included-in-your-plan)
- [Your Xero Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#your-xero-plan)
- [Add-ons Explained](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#add-ons-explained)
- [Working with Us](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [How to Contact Us](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#how-to-contact-us)
- [Your Accountant and Support Team](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#your-accountant-and-support-team)
- [Keeping Your Details Up to Date](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#keeping-your-details-up-to-date)
- [New Company Essentials](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Getting Started](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started)
- [Before and Beyond Trading](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#before-and-beyond-trading)
- [What You Can and Can't Claim](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Benefits, Perks, and Grey Areas](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#benefits-perks-and-grey-areas)
- [Mileage, Travel and Subsistence](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#mileage-travel-and-subsistence)
- [Xero Training and Analytics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Weekly Xero Training Sessions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#weekly-xero-training-sessions)
- [Xero Health Checks](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#xero-health-checks)
- [Syft Analytics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#syft-analytics)
- [Tax Reviews and Webinars](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Annual Tax Efficiency Review](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#annual-tax-efficiency-review)
- [Quarterly Business Performance Review](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#quarterly-business-performance-review)
- [Topical Webinars](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#topical-webinars)
- [Bookkeeping Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Day-to-Day Bookkeeping Workflow](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#day-to-day-bookkeeping-workflow)
- [Bank Reconciliation](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#bank-reconciliation)
- [Recording Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#recording-sales-and-purchases)
- [Managing Receipts and Best Practice](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#managing-receipts-and-best-practice)
- [VAT Registration and Submissions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Do I Need to Register for VAT](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#do-i-need-to-register-for-vat)
- [Submitting VAT Returns](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#submitting-vat-returns)
- [VAT on Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#vat-on-sales-and-purchases)
- [VAT Payments and Schemes](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#vat-payments-and-schemes)
- [Paying Yourself and Employees](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Paying Directors: Salary vs Dividends](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#paying-directors-salary-vs-dividends)
- [Your Payslip and National Insurance](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#your-payslip-and-national-insurance)
- [Dividends: Legal Process](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#dividends-legal-process)
- [Payroll Essentials for New Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#payroll-essentials-for-new-directors)
- [Hiring and Employment Status](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#hiring-and-employment-status)
- [Corporation Tax and Year-End](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Corporation Tax Fundamentals](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#corporation-tax-fundamentals)
- [Allowable Expenses and Year-End Planning](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#allowable-expenses-and-year-end-planning)
- [PAYE and Payroll Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#paye-and-payroll-basics)
- [Director's Loan and HMRC Communications](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#directors-loan-and-hmrc-communications)
- [Losses, Rates and Reliefs](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#losses-rates-and-reliefs)
- [Invoices & Payments](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Creating Invoices and Getting Paid](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#creating-invoices-and-getting-paid)
- [Invoice Numbering and Record Keeping](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#invoice-numbering-and-record-keeping)
- [Personal Tax for Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Drawing Money from Your Company](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#drawing-money-from-your-company)
- [Self Assessment Practical Guide](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#self-assessment-practical-guide)
- [National Insurance and Benefits](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#national-insurance-and-benefits)
- [Household Finances](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#household-finances)
- [Using Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Getting Started with Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started-with-xero)
- [Bank Feeds and Making Tax Digital](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#bank-feeds-and-making-tax-digital)
- [Xero for VAT and Payroll](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#xero-for-vat-and-payroll)
- [Understanding your Numbers](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)
- [Key Accounting Terms Explained](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#key-accounting-terms-explained)
- [Reading your Financial Reports](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#reading-your-financial-reports)
- [Using Your Numbers to Make Decisions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#using-your-numbers-to-make-decisions)
- [Your Compliance Calendar](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#your-compliance-calendar)
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy
[](https://www.1stformations.co.uk)
[mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com)
Copyright 2026 © 1st Formations
We are proud to be a Certified B Corporation™