Hi Jocelyn-boughton,
If you're creating the transaction through the plus icon, it'll ask if you have it set to Exclusive of VAT or Inclusive of VAT.
If you are doing this from the banking section, it will always ask you to assign a VAT code, because it's default setting is to always require a VAT code. For this, set it to (NO VAT - Purchases).
I prefer to use the plus icon for bank deposits, make sure the amount and date matches, and then match in the banking screen - but that's just me :)
Thanks,