What is a factura rectificativa and when can I issue one?

A factura rectificativa (credit note) amends or cancels a previous invoice. You can issue one for billing errors, goods returns, contract cancellations, or bad debts (non-payment). For non-payment, SMEs (turnover ≤ €6,010,121.04) must wait 6 months from the accrual date; large businesses must wait 12 months. After the waiting period you have a further 6 months to issue the note.

What is the deadline for a credit note due to non-payment?

Under Art. 80.4 LIVA (as amended by Law 31/2022): SMEs wait 6 months from the accrual date; businesses exceeding €6,010,121.04 in annual turnover wait 12 months. Once the waiting period ends, you have 6 months to issue the credit note and notify the debtor through a documented reliable means. Miss that window and you lose the right to recover the VAT.

What is the deadline when the client is declared insolvent?

Art. 80.3 LIVA gives you 2 months from the date the court insolvency order is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). You do not need to wait out the general non-payment period; you can act from the very day of publication.

How does a credit note affect Modelo 303?

Report the negative base amount in the output VAT boxes for the quarter in which you issue the credit note: box 01 for 21%, box 03 for 10%, box 05 for 4%. The negative VAT will reduce output VAT for that period or carry forward to future quarters. Keep the credit note and notification proof for 4 years.

Did Law 31/2022 change the waiting period for SMEs?

Yes. Law 31/2022, in force from 1 January 2023, extended the SME waiting period from 3 to 6 months and removed the requirement for court or notarial proceedings — a reliable documented means such as registered mail now suffices. This applies to operations accruing from 1 January 2023 onward.

Can I recover VAT if the client pays late but eventually pays?

No. This procedure applies only to genuinely uncollectable debts. If the client eventually pays, even late, you have no right to recover VAT through a credit note. If you already issued the credit note and the client subsequently pays, you must issue a new invoice to reverse the credit note and charge VAT again.

Recover VAT from unpaid invoices

Calculate how much VAT you can reclaim from AEAT, whether you are still within the deadline to issue a credit note, and what to do on Modelo 303.

Original invoice date (accrual date)

Date the invoice was issued or the service was delivered

Invoice base amount (excl. VAT)

€

Invoice amount before VAT, in euros

VAT rate applied

VAT rate shown on the original invoice

Reason for the credit note

Non-payment (bad debt)Client has not paid the invoice — Art. 80.4 LIVA

Insolvency proceedingsClient is in court-declared insolvency published in the BOE — Art. 80.3 LIVA

Billing error or returnIncorrect invoice, goods return, or cancellation — Art. 89 LIVA

Prior-year annual turnover

Up to €6,010,121.04 (SME)Turnover €6,010,121.04 or below — you wait 6 months

More than €6,010,121.04 (large business)More than €6,010,121.04 — you wait 12 months

Fill in the details to see how much VAT you can recover

Estimate based on Art. 80 LIVA (VAT base modification) and Art. 89 LIVA (rectification). The Art. 80.Cuatro regime does NOT apply when the original VAT base is ≤ €50 and the recipient is a final consumer (not entrepreneur/professional). Before issuing a credit note, verify with your accountant that ALL Art. 80.Cuatro conditions are met — especially the reliable collection demand to the debtor and AEAT notification within one month (Art. 24 RIVA).

How to use the calculator

Follow these four steps to find out whether you can still recover VAT from an unpaid or incorrect invoice.

Enter invoice details

Enter the invoice date, the base amount, and the VAT rate shown on the original invoice.

Select the reason

Choose non-payment, insolvency, or billing error/return — each case has different deadlines under Art. 80 LIVA.

Check whether you are in time

The calculator shows the days remaining, the earliest date you can issue the credit note, and the final deadline.

Follow the Modelo 303 steps

Plain-language instructions tell you exactly which boxes to complete to correctly declare the negative base on your VAT return.

Why use this calculator

Recovering VAT from unpaid invoices is your right, but it comes with strict deadlines. This calculator helps you not to miss them.

Deadlines at a glance

Calculate in seconds whether you can still issue the credit note and how many days remain before the Art. 80 LIVA window closes.

Regulation up to date

Includes the Law 31/2022 reform: for SMEs the waiting period is now 6 months (previously 3 months) for operations from January 2023.

Modelo 303 demystified

We tell you exactly which boxes to complete for the negative base so AEAT processes your VAT recovery correctly.

Frequently asked questions about credit notes

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