--- title: "All Steps at a Glance" description: "In this chapter, you will find the individual steps for creating and sending your VAT returns in VAT, each with links to detailed descriptions." source_url: https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/all-steps-at-a-glance language: en last_updated: 2026-09-28 --- # All Steps in Lucanet VAT at a Glance ## Overview of All Steps in VAT In this chapter, you will find the individual steps for creating and sending your VAT returns in Lucanet VAT (Value Added Tax). Each step description contains links to detailed descriptions. You usually perform the first two steps once at the start of the project; if something changes later, for example in the company structure, you adjust the configuration. You repeat the remaining steps in every reporting period. Not every step applies to every company: which steps VAT displays depends on the company type, the kind of period, and the configuration. ### Step 1: Configure the Settings in VAT At the start of the project, configure the technical basis of VAT. You access the settings via the gear icon in the top right corner. The settings in VAT include: - the **Interface configuration** for importing the ERP reports, for example via the REST interface or a network drive - the **Connection parameter** for connecting the ERP systems and for electronic transmission - the **Countries** settings, for example for the review steps and the **Paid** status - the **users and roles** ### Step 2: Maintain the Master Data in VAT In the **Master data** functional area in VAT, store all VAT-relevant data of the companies. This includes the periods, the companies with their due dates, the company codes, and the tax codes with their mapping to the fields of the declaration form. You also specify which reconciliations are performed for the companies. The master data is usually entered at the start of the project and can be adjusted for specific periods if something changes. ### Step 3: Create and Send the Preliminary VAT Return in VAT Create, review, and send the preliminary VAT returns of your companies in the [Value Added Tax](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax.md) functional area. The reporting process for the preliminary VAT return in VAT comprises the following steps: - **Import data**: for a single company in the [Import](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/import-single-company.md) workspace, or for several companies at once in the [Mass Data Import](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/import-multiple-companies.md) workspace. Not applicable if the declaration is created manually and in special prepayment periods. - **Review and edit the declaration**: in the [Declaration](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/declaration-edit-finalise.md) workspace – manual adjustments and offsetting entries are optional. - **Perform reconciliations**: in the [Reconciliations](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/performing-reconciliations.md) workspace, if reconciliations are configured for the company. - **Finalize the declaration**: in the [Declaration](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/declaration-edit-finalise.md) workspace. - **Review and finalize the VAT group return**: in the [VAT Group Return](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/vat-group-return.md) workspace – only for representative VAT group members and consolidated VAT group members. - **Perform the review before transfer**: if activated in the country settings. For more information, see the [Month Overview](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/monthly-overview.md) page. - **Send the declaration**: in the [Send declaration](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/send-declaration.md) workspace – only for standalone companies and representative VAT group members. - **Perform the review after transmission** and **document the payment**: if activated in the country settings. You can track the current processing status of all steps at any time in the [Status](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/tax-sales-status.md) workspace. ### Step 4: Create and Send the European Sales List in VAT Create and send the European Sales List (ESL) for your intra-Community transactions in the **European Sales List** functional area in VAT. The reporting process corresponds to that of the preliminary VAT return: you import the ESL data, make manual adjustments if necessary, perform the reconciliations, finalize the declaration, and transmit it to the German Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern). The functional area is only visible if the **Submits ESL** check box is activated in the master data of the company, and it is only available in preliminary return periods. If possible, finalize the ESL before you perform the reconciliations of the preliminary VAT return – the reconciliation with the ESL compares the values of both declarations. ### Step 5: Optional: Use Overviews and Create Corrections in VAT The following workspaces of the **Value Added Tax** functional area in VAT are not assigned to a fixed process step. You use them in parallel to the reporting process as required; corresponding overviews are available in the **European Sales List** functional area: | Workspace | When you use it | |---------|---------| | [Status](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/tax-sales-status.md) | Track the processing status of all steps of the chosen company at any time, including logs and file attachments. | | [Month overview](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/monthly-overview.md) | Check the reporting progress of all companies in a period, for example before a due date. Here you can also open or finalize several declarations at once. | | [Year overview](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/yearly-overview.md) | Check the reporting progress of all companies over the entire calendar year. | | [Declaration](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/declaration-edit-finalise.md) and [Month overview](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/monthly-overview.md) | Create a correction after transmission if you need to correct the declaration. In the month overview and the year overview, you create a correction by clicking the **Sent** status. | | [Comparison view of corrections](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/comparison-corrections.md) | After creating a correction, compare the original declaration with the correction versions. | | [Reports](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/value-added-tax/create-download-reports.md) | Create Excel reports for analyzing the VAT data, for example after finalizing the declaration. |