Why my figures look different

When a number is not what you expected, it almost always comes down to which transactions are being counted, and when.

Unexplained transactions are not counted

Imported bank transactions start as Unexplained, and they stay out of your reports and VAT return until you explain them. Reports even warn you: an amber banner says the data is incomplete due to unexplained bank transactions.

Work through them with Explain a transaction and the figures update straight away.

The date falls outside the period

A report or VAT return only counts what is dated within its period. An invoice dated 1 July is not in a return that ends 30 June, however close it feels.

Timing differences

Your VAT Accounting Basis decides when things count on a VAT return: on the Invoice basis, invoices and bills count from their document date; on the Cash basis, they count when they are paid. So the same quarter can show different VAT figures on different bases, and neither is wrong. The full mechanics are in How your VAT return is calculated.

Your bank shows something Kontala has not seen

Kontala only knows about the transactions you have imported or added. If your bank balance and Kontala disagree, import a statement covering the gap - duplicates are skipped, so overlapping is safe.

If a figure still looks wrong after checking these, contact support with the report, the period, and the figure you expected, and we will help you trace it.