Reopening a VAT period
Why do we prevent the editing of documents once a VAT period has been closed?
Once a VAT return has been submitted, you shouldn’t edit any transactions falling into the period on
which your Vat return was based. Otherwise your financial accounts won’t tie up to what the tax
authorities have on their system. Sometimes this can result in a query from the taxman asking you to
explain the difference.
Sage One asks you to “close” your VAT period after your return has been finalised. This prevents the
editing of any transactions falling within the VAT period submitted.
On occasion however – you may wish to edit a transaction – e.g. to change a vat number on an invoice
or something similar.
The procedure outlined below shows you how to “re-open” a VAT period in order to make changes to
transactions falling within that specific VAT period.
Please remember to close the VAT period after you’re finished – it’s for your own control.
Reopen VAT periods for processing adjustments.
The steps below will guide you through the process of reopening a specific VAT period, to allow for
adjustments to be made.

Sign onto your Sage One Accounting profile and select Administration…Control User Access.
Select the company you wish to make the change on from the company list which appears and then
select the ‘Permissions’ tab next to user you wish to grant the required access to.

On the Access Option, scroll down and select VAT – VAT Returns and Reports and select the
‘Reopen VAT Period’ check box.

Once you have made the desired change, select Reports – VAT and ‘Reopen’ the VAT period in
question.

The following message will appear :
You are about to reopen your (VAT Period date) VAT return.
Warning: Reopening a VAT return should only be done if your intention is to resubmit your VAT to your
revenue authority. All transactions in the VAT return for (VAT Period date) will be unmarked as finalised
and you will be able to edit these transactions. Any transactions that have been back dated prior to and
including (VAT Period end date) and that have not been included in any other VAT return will be included
in the (VAT Period date) VAT return once you close this VAT period.
You may now go ahead with making the adjustments required on your set of account. We recommend
that you close the period after your editing is complete.