VAT not registered and never added a VAT number - yet all transactions are needing VAT classification. Help!

Let me share some information about your VAT setup, @EPC-NOD. 

The VAT column in your transactions will only appear if you have turned on the VAT feature in QuickBooks Online and provided your VAT number.

It may have been this option was enabled accidentally. We can review the VAT settings to check if a VAT number is displayed. If that's the case, the VAT column on your transactions we are unable to remove it. However, we can set the default VAT to "NO VAT" and stop VAT from showing in future transactions. 

Here's how to check:

1. Go to Taxes. 
2. Under the Edit VAT dropdown, select VAT Settings. 
3. Check if there is a number showing in the VAT registration number.

If you've confirmed that VAT has been activated without your prior knowledge. I suggest contacting our support team, which will investigate this matter and assist you further.

Moreover, I'd like to share these articles to help you learn more about your VAT: 

• Understanding the Flat Rate VAT Scheme in QuickBooks Online
• VAT codes in QuickBooks Online: A complete guide

Keep me posted if you still have questions about VAT. Have a great day. 

No VAT number was set up and no idea how the VAT tab was set up, unless it was done via the app by pressing the wrong button?

I spent yesterday evening trying to resolve this with a screen share, got cut off, then it said technical issues and the telephone number said you were closed. Despite you saying you are open until 10pm.  Not very happy with this. I'm not registered for VAT and no number provided. Charlie on the chat said a made up number could be added to set it up. But no number has been entered. There should be a fail safe system to stop people setting this up in error.  So now it looks like I will need to close this account and restart if you cannot remove. I do not want a tab asking me to file a vat return every quarter when I'm not registered.

Hi EPC-NOD, we appreciate you providing this additional information

Currently, the VAT feature is only available on the web (not the app) and can only be activated in-product. Are there any other users on the account who may have enabled this in error?

Due to the accounts that are auto generated when turning on VAT, it isn't possible to turn this off. This means that the VAT tab will remain visible in QuickBooks and the workaround provided above (to set the default to NO VAT) would be recommended.

If you do need any further help, please don't hesitate to get back in touch. We'll be happy to help in any way we can.

No tax has always been ticked. It is still highlighting every transaction asking for tax info. 

This is a very bad system if it allows setting up VAT without a vat reference number. There should be a fail safe mechanism in place that until that is added the tab can be reversed.  It should also need an email confirmation as your system insists on filing a return that is not going to be filed and has no reference. 

So if QB allows this to happen, says it can't be set up without a Reference (shown to your expert online last night before being disconnected due to a technical glitch) - then can't be removed - does this mean cancelling qb's and setting up again under a new account?  I do not want a VAT tab or to be asked every transaction for tax rate information. 

Hi EPC-NOD, thanks for sharing these sentiments and we will pass your comments on to our Product team for their consideration.

As the VAT tab cannot be removed once VAT is turned on, you would need to close the account and start over if you do not want this to show. Here's how to cancel your subscription if you're unsure. 

If you need any more help or guidance, please do drop a comment below - thank you. 

Can you ask your technical team whether they can copy over payroll info to the new account. I'm happy to set up everything else from the start but I think payroll would be a nightmare if that is cancelled part way through a tax year. 

If I have to set up a new account from scratch then I'll need to check with my accountant first, and potentially shop around. 

For info on my other query - the technical issues occurred just before 9pm so should still have been available. The screen suggested calling the contact number but it would have been better to have stated the opening hours for calls on that same screen. 

Hello there, EPC-NOD, Allow me to add details about moving payroll info to the new account.

If you want to start a new QuickBooks Online Payroll (QBOP) subscription, you'll need to cancel your old QBOP account. But before you do that, it's important to export your payroll data into QuickBooks first to ensure that you have a complete accounting record of all your past payroll transactions. 

Once done, you'll need to add pay history since the option to migrate payroll data from one account to another is currently unavailable in the program. I suggest consulting with your accountant regarding this step and may consider using a third-party importer tool.

Moreover, you can also contact our Payroll Support Team for assistance to ensure your previous payroll data is recorded accurately in your new account. Here's how you can contact our support: 

1. Log in to your QBO account.
2. Click the Help menu.
3. In the chat box, type "Contact support."
4. Select the Contact a human option.
5. Choose Live Chat or Call me back.

Just a heads-up, our phone and chat support are open every Monday-Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Pacific Time. They're open between 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM Pacific Time on Saturdays. 

Please know that I'm ready to assist further and answer any follow-up questions about payroll. Always keep safe!