Switch on VAT

Out of the box, Sebenza's documents show no VAT — right for most small businesses. Once you're registered with SARS, switch VAT on and every new invoice and quote charges it and shows your VAT number.

Switch it on

1. 1

   Open VAT settings

   Settings → VAT. (Only the owner or an admin sees this section.)
2. 2

   Activate

   Switch on Activate VAT. The rate shows underneath: VAT rate: 15% — South Africa default.

3. 3

   Enter your VAT number

   The VAT number field appears. Letters and digits only, no spaces.

4. 4

   Save

   Tap Save. Sebenza asks once more: Activate VAT — this cannot be undone. Tap Yes, activate VAT.

   ✓ You'll see VAT settings saved. The VAT card now shows an Active badge, and the next invoice you create charges VAT.

What changes on your documents

Every new invoice and quote gets a VAT % column per line, set to 15%, and the totals read like this:

Documents you created before switching on are not changed — they keep the totals they were issued with.

Good to know

• Prices are exclusive. The Unit Price you type is before VAT; Sebenza adds VAT on top. There's no inclusive mode.
• Your saved services — services saved before you activated VAT still carry 0%. Open My Services and set each one's VAT Rate (%) to 15.
• A line without VAT — set that line's VAT % to 0 on the invoice.
• Other countries — the rate follows your business's country: Botswana 14%, Mozambique 16% (IVA), DR Congo 16% (TVA).
• Updating the number — you can change the VAT number any time; only switching off is locked.

If something's off

• "VAT number must be 4–32 letters/digits" — remove spaces, dashes and the "VAT" prefix; enter the number only.
• "VAT is not activated for your business" when saving an invoice — you've put a VAT rate on a line, but VAT isn't on. Set the line to 0, or activate VAT first.
• You don't see VAT in Settings — only the account owner or an admin can. Ask them.
• Activated by mistake — contact support with your business name; they reverse it.