Let’s be honest. As a solo‑BV entrepreneur you’re probably brilliant at what you do—whether that’s writing code, giving marketing advice, or roasting the best coffee in town. But that box of receipts in the corner? That feels less like a business asset and more like a time‑bomb of admin horror.

Every crumpled receipt, every forgotten digital invoice hiding in your spam folder is literally money you’re throwing away. Money that’s yours. The Tax Administration calls this input VAT (“voorbelasting”), but you can think of it as credit. If you don’t claim it, you’re effectively making a generous donation. Kind, sure—but not great for your cash flow.

So how do you stop giving money away without turning it into a weekend job? The answer is simpler than you think: let a smart robot do the dirty work.

The black holes your VAT disappears into

Before we jump to the solution—recognise these? Chances are you’re missing VAT in places like these:

• The classic receipt chaos: fuel receipts in your glove compartment, lunch receipts in your jacket pocket, and the office‑supplies receipt… where did that go again?

• The digital ghost invoices: you pay monthly for tools like Adobe, Google Workspace, or that handy project‑management app. The invoices land in your inbox and vanish into digital oblivion.

• The “Is this deductible?” doubt: that business lunch with a potential client. Can you reclaim VAT on it? Not sure about the rules? Out of uncertainty, you skip it.

Each of these moments is a leak in your financial bucket. Individually the amounts seem small, but add them up and you’re quickly talking hundreds of euros per quarter.

Your financial detective: how AI finds missed VAT

Imagine an assistant who works 24/7, never complains, and has a nose for money. That’s exactly what AI can do for your bookkeeping. No complicated theory—just practical magic.

1. Snap a photo and forget it
   The days of re‑typing receipts are over. Modern AI bookkeeping platforms let you simply take a photo. The AI reads the receipt, recognises the supplier, date, amount and—most importantly—the VAT amount.

   • How it works: you fill up, you pay, you take a photo, you toss the slip. Done. The AI posts it straight into your books.

   • The benefit: zero manual work, near‑perfect accuracy. No more hoarding paper. That’s peace of mind.

2. Let AI trawl your inbox
   You can connect a platform like Conta AI to your business email. The AI scans your inbox (strictly and securely, of course) for supplier invoices.

   • Example: Bram, a 28‑year‑old IT consultant with a BV, always forgot the VAT on his monthly €60 Adobe and €12 Google Workspace bills. The AI now picks these up automatically—€15.12 of VAT back every quarter without a second of extra effort.

   • Benefit: automatic financial clarity on all your recurring costs.

3. The built‑in rule expert
   Good AI accounting knows Dutch tax rules. Upload a lunch receipt and the system knows exactly which part of the VAT is deductible and which isn’t.

   • How it works: you upload that business lunch for €50 (including €4.59 VAT). The AI knows VAT on food & drink in hospitality is limitedly deductible and books it correctly for your VAT return.

   • Benefit: no guessing. You comply without becoming a tax encyclopedia. Simple, but regulated.

4. Always ready for the VAT return
   Because receipts and invoices are processed immediately and correctly, your VAT return is basically ready at quarter‑end. No last‑minute stress. With one click you see exactly how much VAT to pay—or, even better—how much to get back.

In short: stop working, start reclaiming

Running your single‑person BV is complex enough. Your bookkeeping doesn’t have to be. By automating the hunt for missed VAT, you win on all fronts:

• Save money: you claim every cent of input VAT you’re entitled to.

• Save time: no manual entry and no quarter‑end panic.

• Peace: your finances are correct, safe, and compliant with the Tax Administration.

It’s not rocket science. It’s just working smarter, not harder.

Learn how Conta AI can automate your finances.