VAT managers are as reliant as ever on Excel for supporting VAT compliance. HMRC’s focus on adequate systems and processes, including the SAO regime and more recently the Making Tax Digital (MTD) consultations, means there is an increased focus on review and error checking. HMRC’s comments have made it clear that spreadsheets are here to stay but that they must be made MTD-compliant.

Equipping indirect tax professionals with better Excel knowledge and skills can be a practical and cost efficient way to reduce spreadsheet risk, and explore how spreadsheets could be made MTD-compliant.


Common challenges for VAT managers

• Lack of confidence in legacy spreadsheets that are perhaps not as robust as they should be
• Too much time is spent "re-learning" spreadsheets and their interactions every quarter
• Inefficient, manual processing of data means more effort goes into looking for figures instead of considering their effect
• Minimal controls present, including lack of audit trail and sheet protection, can result in a ‘hope for no errors’ mentality

What does the course offer?

• Case studies of real and relevant Excel VAT issues based on our experience throughout the VAT compliance cycle of Validation > Preparation > Review
• Help attendees unlock a suite of Excel functionality and suggested best practices including robust spreadsheet design and risk reduction techniques

Why you should attend this course

• Small learning groups, designed with VAT managers in mind
• Opportunity to discuss the issues you face when working with spreadsheets
• Supports risk management and compliance with SAO
• Explore what may be required for Making Tax Digital
• Supports a smoother compliance process
• Overview into what may be possible

Topics covered include:

• Handling and validating VAT data
• Designing for maintenance
• Building in controls and checks
• Common pitfalls
• Review summaries
• Bringing it all together to complete the return

Who should attend?

This one day training course is designed for VAT managers and is taught by VAT specialists and Excel specialists.

Delegate feedback

"This is one of the most valuable courses I have been on for some time, it has opened my eyes to what is possible in Excel and how we could use these tools to improve our VAT process".

"This course was exactly what I needed to enhance my excel skills - in an area which I had familiarity with, rather than just a generic course".

If you have any specific queries in regards to the course content or in general please contact us at VATexcel@deloitte.co.uk.

Course availability

If you would like to register your interest for a future course on an alternative date and/or location, please complete the short form below. Once we have sufficient demand, we will contact you with details and potential dates for you to confirm your availability. We will then finalise the course details and ask for your confirmation of attendance.

The cost for this one day classroom course is currently £2,000.00 exc. VAT.


Register your interest

• The cost of this course is £2,000 plus VAT.


• After completing your purchase the process is as follows:
1. You will receive an order acknowledgement via email.
2. A VAT invoice will be sent by the UK Deloitte Finance Team within 7 working days.
3. Course joining instructions will be sent out within 2 weeks of the event start date with confirmation of the event agenda, venue location and timings.


• For administrative assistance regarding the registration process or logistics for the day please email Deloitte Store Customer Services or call / +44 (0) 20 7007 0400.


• Course content: Course content has been developed based on experience to date and uses generic examples to highlight key areas for consideration. Whilst we believe this content may be helpful to you, it has not been produced to specifically address the needs or concerns of any individual organisation or attendee. There may be the opportunity to ask specific questions during the course, however, neither the course content nor any answers provided during the course and should be considered as being a substitute for appropriate professional advice.


• Use of Deloitte technology: Whilst participating in the course you will be provided with appropriate technology to enable you to complete any exercises. You will not seek to introduce any harmful viruses or other content onto the equipment or to download any of the course content for your future personal or other use. All course material is the confidential information of Deloitte.


• Change of date: Subject to a change in circumstances Deloitte reserves the right to change the date of the course. Wherever possible an alternative will be provided and notification will be given as far in advance as reasonably practical. Should you no longer be able to attend on the alternative date, or for reasons outside its control Deloitte can no longer make the course available, Deloitte shall refund any payment received in respect of the course in full.