🇦🇪 UAE only
The VAT Input Dashboard helps you track your company’s VAT compliance and identify opportunities to recover more VAT on business expenses. It gives you a clear view of which expenses are fully compliant and ready to claim, which ones need attention, and where potential VAT savings are at risk due to missing information.
In this article, you'll learn how to use the dashboard effectively, take the right actions based on expense status, and follow best practices to improve VAT recovery.
Understanding the Dashboard
You can access the VAT Input Dashboard from your Home page. The dashboard groups your expenses into three categories:
Compliant & Claiming
What it means: Expenses have a 5% tax code and a valid tax invoice attached.
Action: No action needed. These are ready for VAT recovery during filing.
Ready to Claim
What it means: Expenses have a valid tax invoice but are missing the 5% tax code.
Action: Apply the 5% tax code to unlock VAT recovery. These are quick wins.
Missing Documentation
What it means: Expenses are marked with a 5% tax code but don’t have a tax invoice attached
Action: These cannot be claimed until proper documentation is added. Follow up with cardholders to collect the missing invoice.
Sample dashboard view for each category:
Tax Invoice Requirements
To be marked as Compliant & Claiming, tax invoices must include:
“Tax Invoice” label
Invoice number
VAT amount clearly stated
Supplier TRN (Tax Registration Number)
Customer TRN (your company’s TRN)
Mandatory for transactions ≥ 10,000 AED
How to Use the Dashboard
Step 1: Select Your Review Period
Use the date range selector at the top of the dashboard to choose your review period, typically monthly or quarterly. The dashboard will update based on your selection.
Step 2: Review VAT Input Status
To get a visibility of impact and urgency review Potential VAT Input section and identify:
Which category has the highest AED value at risk
How many transactions are in each category
Step 3: Take Action
Click any category to view filtered expenses:
For Ready to Claim: Apply the 5% tax code in bulk to recover VAT
For Missing Documentation: Bulk request tax invoices from cardholders and follow up as needed
Optional: Use VAT Filters for More Control
If you want to drill down into specific types of transactions, use filters available on the Expenses page. You can filter expenses by:
Tax Code Applied
Tax Code Rate (e.g. 5% or 0%)
Tax Invoice Attached
VAT Chargeable (based on UAE VAT eligibility)
Sample screenshot of VAT filters on the Expenses page:
VAT Recovery Best Practices
✅ Do This | ❌ Avoid This |
Set a weekly review schedule to catch issues early | Don’t wait until month-end. Documentation gets harder to collect |
Align reviews with your expense approval workflow | Don’t forget to check the date range selector, you might review the wrong period |
Prioritize Ready to Claim items, these are quick wins | Don’t send just one reminder for missing invoices, follow up until resolved |
For Missing Documentation, send bulk invoice requests with clear deadlines | Never claim VAT without a valid tax invoice, it’s an audit risk |
FAQ
Why does an expense show in "Missing Documentation" if the vendor doesn’t provide tax invoices?
The system identifies expenses that are typically VAT-eligible. If a vendor isn’t VAT-registered, apply a 0% tax code to exclude it.
Does this support both monthly and quarterly VAT filing?
Yes. Just use the date range selector to choose the right period.
How often is the dashboard updated?
The dashboard updates in real-time as tax codes are added and tax invoices are uploaded.
What if I disagree with the categorisation?
Click into the category to view and update individual transactions. You can change the tax code or mark the expense as non-claimable.
Have questions? We're here to help, just email us at product@alaanpay