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Do all expenses count for my VAT?

Written by: Valesca Wilms

Updated on: December 26, 2025

Reading time: < 1 minute

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No, not all expenses count for your VAT return 😔.

We give you the lowdown on why some expense do not impact your VAT return. There are basically 3 conditions:

1/ Only purchase invoices with your own VAT number impact your VAT.

You can only recover VAT from purchase invoices, not receipts. Those invoices need to have your own VAT number printed on them.

For those expenses, make sure the 'invoice' tick box is checked in the 'Add/Edit Expense screen'.

2/ Only expenses with document attached count. Attach a proof. Always.

We only take into account expenses that have a proof attached. It's a best practice in case of tax audit.

3/ Bear in mind that specific accounting categories do not allow you to recover VAT.

Restaurant or insurance costs are typically not deductible for the VAT. It's the tax code, no need to blame Accountable 😉

You have additional questions?
Meet us in the chat.

Valesca Wilms

Author - Valesca Wilms

As content marketing lead at Accountable Belgium, Valesca writes about freelancing, self-employment, and taxes based on her own experience as a freelancer.

Who is Valesca ?

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