LOVAT vs VAT Direct

LOVAT provides tax and compliance tools for businesses selling across borders. Its products cover VAT, sales tax, EPR, tax registration, marketplace tax and e-invoicing. The platform calculates VAT and sales tax across 111 countries and supports 123 currencies. It can calculate VAT in more than 100 countries and submit returns to tax authorities; its sales-tax product calculates and files returns online for 37 US states. EPR tools automate compliance checks in Germany, France, Spain, the UK and other countries. The e-invoicing service generates compliant invoices in more than 30 countries and is a certified Peppol provider. Integrations include marketplaces, commerce platforms and accounting services, including Amazon, Shopify, WooCommerce, Sage, SAP and Xero. Android and iOS apps can collect sales-channel data, prepare and file returns, track thresholds, send deadline notifications and show ten years of sales and return data. LOVAT runs on Android, iOS and web, and offers API access. It requires an internet connection and stores software data in the cloud. Plans include a free option, paid plans from €27/mo and a 14-day trial.

VAT Direct provides software for submitting VAT and Self Assessment returns and accessing VAT information through the Exedra platform. Users can send VAT return data from spreadsheet-generated CSV files, keeping their existing accounting system for that process. Its online cashbook holds VAT and Self Assessment records and supports cash-basis or standard VAT accounting. Supported schemes include Flat Rate, retail and margin schemes, traditional and EC VAT, and the Domestic Reverse Charge; it also tracks CIS payments. Open Banking can load statements from multiple bank, cash, and credit-card accounts into the cashbook. An API offers bank statement and HMRC tax information after login and authorisation. The free digital-record service is limited to 500 transactions per period and requires cash-basis accounts. The site says data is processed in the UK, includes anti-fraud headers, and offers optional two-factor authentication by text message or a similar method. The cashbook does not currently handle FRC Taxonomies. The basic service is free; users must contact the provider for details about premium services.