How To Change VAT in Odoo Cloud

How to Change VAT from 15% → 15.5%

To change a VAT rate in Odoo Cloud, it is recommended that you create a new tax record with the updated rate rather than editing the existing one. This approach preserves the historical accuracy of past transactions. 

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Log into Odoo 17 with admin rights.
2. Go to the Accounting module.
3. Navigate to Tax Configuration: In your Odoo instance, go to the Accounting application (sometimes labeled Invoicing, depending on your version and setup). From there, navigate to Configuration > Taxes.
4. Create a New Tax Record: Find the current VAT tax that needs updating (e.g., "VAT 15%"). To the right of the tax name, click the duplicate button (often a "copy" or "duplicate" icon).
5. Configure the New Rate: Open the duplicated tax record and update the following fields:
   • Tax Name: Change the name to reflect the new rate (e.g., "VAT 15.5%").
   • Amount: Set the new VAT percentage (e.g., 15.5%).
   • Tax Scope: Ensure the scope (Sales, Purchases, or both) matches the original tax.
   • Tax Group: Assign it to the same tax group (e.g., "VAT") to keep your tax reports consistent.
6. Save and Activate: Save the new tax record. By default, new taxes are often active, but if not, ensure the Active toggle is enabled.
7. Update Default Taxes (Optional but Recommended): To automatically apply the new tax to future transactions, set it as the default.
   • Go to Accounting > Configuration > Settings.
   • Scroll to the Taxes section and update the Default Sales Tax and/or Default Purchase Tax fields to the newly created tax.
   • Click Save.
8. Apply to Products/Services: Products and services often have default taxes assigned to them. You may need to update existing product records to use the new VAT rate for future sales, or Odoo might automatically handle this via the default tax setting depending on your configuration.
9. Deactivate/Archive Old Tax (When Ready): Once all future transactions are correctly using the new tax and the old rate is no longer applicable for new orders, you can archive the old VAT tax record to prevent accidental use. 

Important Considerations:

• Consult an Accountant: Tax regulations can be complex, and you should always consult with an accountant to ensure compliance with local regulations.
• Existing Orders: Invoices and orders created with the old VAT rate before the effective date will retain the old rate, preserving historical data. The new rate will apply to new documents from the date of change or an effective date set through automation if configured.