Receipts, VAT and Card Reporting for SMEs
Card income must tie to till records, VAT where applicable, and bank deposits after fees. Messy handoffs between EPOS, terminals and accounting create year-end pain — fix the plumbing early.
Next step: Choose acquiring with exportable settlement files. Contact us if your accountant flagged unreconciled card lines.
Daily rhythm: Z-read, terminal summary, deposit
Close tills on a fixed schedule; capture gross sales before MDR. Map acquirer deposits net of fees — book fees separately so VAT on processing is visible. For multi-site, standardise time zones on reports.
VAT evidence
Itemised receipts should show VAT rate or “VAT included” messaging consistent with pricing. Exports and B2B reverse-charge scenarios need customer VAT IDs stored in EPOS — not on a sticky note. This is general information; your accountant should validate treatment.
Tips, service and troncs
If tips route through the acquirer, ensure payroll and tronc rules match what landed in bank — variances often sit here. Cross-check with hospitality payments.
Chargebacks and adjustments
Sudden deposit drops may be chargebacks or rolling reserve releases — tag ledger codes so P&L is not distorted.
Related guides
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