---
title: "Importing ESL Data"
source_url: https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/european-sales-list/import-data-summary
language: en
last_updated: 2026-10-05
---
# Importing ESL Data in Lucanet VAT

## Overview of the 'Import' Workspace of the European Sales List in VAT

In the **Import** workspace in the **European Sales List** (ESL) functional area in Lucanet VAT (Value Added Tax), you import the data for the European Sales List of the selected company and period. The import is based on the ERP report **RFASLM00**, which contains the ESL-relevant values: intra-Community supplies, services, and intra-Community triangulations.

> **Note:** VAT only imports values without decimal places, as the values in the European Sales List are transmitted in full euros. As a rule, the source systems already generate the import files for the European Sales List without decimal places.

For superordinate companies with company members, VAT transfers the ESL data of the company members into the declaration of the superordinate company automatically (see the [European Sales List](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/european-sales-list.md) page).

## Navigation to the 'Import' Workspace of the European Sales List in VAT

The **Import** workspace can be found under **VAT | European Sales List | Import** and is displayed as follows, for example:

![Shows the 'Import' workspace of the European Sales List in VAT for the period 'DE_2020_11_VA' and the company '1000 - Organträger' with the 'Import available reports' button, the three-dot icon, and the 'Status information' section with the entry 'Import ESL: No import data available. No import executed!'. Below it are the 'Search' field and the empty table with the columns 'Row', 'Status', 'VAT ID number', 'Amount', 'Type of transaction', 'Applies to period', and 'Note'.](https://support.lucanet.com/assets/docs-images/income-taxes/vat/european-sales-list/import-data-summary/_images/en/import-overview.png)
The 'Import' workspace

## Structure of the 'Import' Workspace of the European Sales List in VAT

The **Import** workspace of the European Sales List in VAT is divided into two areas:

**Status information**

In the upper area, the **Status information** section displays the current import status of the European Sales List. Under **Import ESL**, you can see whether new import data is available, as well as the date, time, and user name of the last import.

**Import data table**

In the lower area, a table displays the imported ESL records with the following columns:

| Column | Description |
|---------|---------|
| Row | Consecutive number of the record. The number is assigned automatically. |
| Status | Import status of the individual record |
| VAT ID number | VAT identification number of the purchaser or recipient within the European Union |
| Amount | Net value of the tax base in full euros without decimal places |
| Type of transaction | Type of transaction in accordance with the Federal Central Tax Office: **0** = intra-Community supplies, **1** = services, **2** = intra-Community triangulations |
| Applies to period | Period to which the record is assigned |
| Note | Additional information or warnings on the record |

## Importing ESL Data in VAT

How you import the ESL data in VAT depends on the **interface type** assigned to the company in the **interface configuration**. You reach the interface configuration via the gear icon in the top right corner; it is usually set up at the start of the project.

> **Note:** Only one interface type is active per company – either the webservice import or the network drive import. The manual import is always available in addition, regardless of the configured interface type. If no interface is configured, the manual import is the only import type.

### Importing ESL Data via the Webservice

With the webservice import, the source system sends the ESL data directly to the VAT interface. The transmitted data is then available in the **Import** workspace.

To import the available ESL data in VAT:

1. Check in the **Status information** section whether new import data is available.

2. Click **Import available reports** in the top right corner. VAT reads the available data into the import data table.

3. Check the imported records in the table.

4. Click **Save** to save the import and transfer the data into the declaration. The button is only displayed after you have read in data.

### Importing ESL Data from the Network Drive

With the network drive import, the source system automatically places the report files in a folder on a network drive. The folder and the naming convention for the files are defined in the interface configuration.

The **Import from network drive** button is only displayed if the **Network drive** interface type is assigned to the company in the interface configuration.

To import the ESL data from the network drive in VAT:

1. Click **Import from network drive** in the top right corner. VAT searches the configured folder for new files for the selected period and reads the recognized data into the import data table.

2. Check the imported records in the table.

3. Click **Save** to save the import and transfer the data into the declaration.

### Importing ESL Data Manually

With the manual import, you upload a TXT file containing the ESL data from your local computer.

To import the ESL data manually in VAT:

1. Click **Manual import**. If an interface type is configured, you find the function in the context menu of the three-dot icon (⋮) in the top right corner. The **Manual import** dialog is displayed:

    ![Shows the 'Manual import' dialog of the European Sales List in VAT with the report type 'ZM Import TXT', the 'File path' field with the 'Choose File' button, and the 'Close' and 'Import' buttons.](https://support.lucanet.com/assets/docs-images/income-taxes/vat/european-sales-list/import-data-summary/_images/en/manual-import.png)
    The 'Manual import' dialog

2. Select the file on your local computer via the file selection.

3. Click **Import** to read in the file.

4. Check the imported records in the table.

5. Click **Save** to save the import and transfer the data into the declaration.

> **Warning:** Only by saving does VAT transfer the imported values into the European Sales List. Without saving, the read-in data is lost when you leave the workspace.

## Preview for a Quarterly European Sales List in VAT

If the company submits the European Sales List quarterly, you cannot import the ESL data in the months outside the reporting month. Use the **Preview** button to display the available data in these months in VAT without importing it.

## Further Functions in the 'Import' Workspace of the European Sales List in VAT

In addition to the [general functions](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/income-taxes/vat/user-interface-general-functions.md), the following functions are available in the context menu of the three-dot icon (⋮) in the top right corner of the **Import** workspace of the European Sales List in VAT:

| Function | Description |
|---------|---------|
| Manual import | Opens the dialog for the manual import of a TXT file (see section [Importing ESL Data Manually](#importing-esl-data-manually)). |
| Clear PreImport | Removes read-in data that has not been saved yet, so that it is no longer available for the import. |