A VAT term is done when all four steps on the VAT return are green:
Create VAT-return – the return is created and the period is locked.
Submit VAT report to Altinn
Receipt – the response from the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten).
Payment – you register that the VAT has been paid (or received).
There is no separate "close term" button. The term is closed when all four steps have a green tick.
Find the VAT return
Go to Accounting → Submissions → VAT return.
Choose the term in the period picker at the top of the page (for example 4. Term 2026). The arrows on either side switch to the previous or next term.
On the left you see the entries in the VAT return and whether you have an amount to pay or to get back. On the right you see the four steps.
The screenshots show the app in Norwegian.
See which terms are locked
Click the period picker to see all terms at once:
Green tick – the VAT return has been created and the period is locked.
Blue outlined tick – the VAT return has been created, but the period is not locked.
No tick – the VAT return has not been created.
The tick only shows whether the period is locked. Whether the return has been submitted and the payment registered is shown in the steps when you open the term.
1. Create the VAT return and lock the period
Click Create next to the step Create VAT-return.
If needed, write an explanation in Additional info/explanation for deviations.
Leave Lock VAT report switched on.
Click Create VAT-return.
The Create button is greyed out until the term has ended. You can't create the VAT return for a term that is still ongoing.
Once the period is locked, you can't post new vouchers in the term. This makes sure the figures you submit don't change afterwards.
When you create the VAT return, Catacloud automatically posts a settlement voucher. You'll find it under Transactions on the same page.
To change the explanation later, click the arrow next to Reopen period and choose Update VAT-return.
What does the status mean?
Under Create VAT-return you'll see one of these:
Not created – the VAT return hasn't been created yet.
Created, but not locked – the return exists, but the period is open. Click Lock before you submit.
Created and accounting period locked – ready to submit.
Created, but is outdated – something has been posted in the term after the return was created. Click Create VAT-return correction to create a new return with the updated figures.
Check the figures before you submit
Click Export → Download .pdf. The PDF shows a summary on the first page, followed by one page per VAT code with all the transaction lines behind each entry: date, voucher number, description, customer or supplier, and amount. This lets you see which vouchers have been given which VAT code.
If you submitted the VAT return from Catacloud, you can also choose Download .xml.
If a line has a reversed sign, add a comment using the comment icon on the line. See Comment on the VAT return: how to explain a reversed sign (negative input VAT).
2. Submit the VAT return to Altinn
Check that the status is Created and accounting period locked. The Send button only appears when the period is locked.
Click Send next to the step Submit VAT report to Altinn.
Log in and confirm the submission when you are taken to ID-porten/Altinn. You'll be returned to Catacloud afterwards.
Once the return has been submitted, it says The submission was successful with the date.
Getting an error message from Altinn? See Altinn rejects the VAT return – how to fix the error.
3. Receipt – what needs to be paid?
Under Receipt you can see the response from the Norwegian Tax Administration, for example the amount you owe (with Bank account, CID and Due date) or the amount you get back. Amounts below NOK 100 must not be paid in, and corresponding amounts in credit will not be paid out.
Click Download to save the receipt.
It can take a little while for the receipt to arrive. Reload the page if it doesn't appear.
4. Register the payment – the term is done
Click Register payment next to the step Payment.
Check Payment date and Total amount. Both are filled in, and the amount is negative when you have money to get back.
Choose Payment method.
Click Register payment.
When it says Payment has been registered, the term is done. The payment voucher appears under Transactions.
What gets posted?
When you create the VAT return, Catacloud moves the balances on the VAT accounts (for example 2700, 2710 and 2711) to account 2740, the VAT settlement account. Rounding to whole kroner is posted as a rounding difference. When you register the payment, account 2740 is cleared against the bank account.
Click Show related transactions under Transactions to see all the lines.
Reopen a term
If you need to correct something in a locked term before submitting, click Reopen period. You can then post in the period again. Click Lock when you're done.
Has the VAT return already been submitted? See Vouchers posted after the VAT return was submitted – correct it or include them in the next period?
Submitted the VAT return directly in Altinn?
If you submitted the VAT return outside Catacloud, you can mark it as submitted:
Click the arrow next to Reopen period.
Choose VAT report sent in manually.
The submission and receipt steps are then replaced by Manually registered VAT, and you can click Register payment straight away.
Read also
When should you contact us?
Contact us if a step gets stuck or you get an error message you can't find in the articles above. Please include:
The client and the term in question
Which step it stops at
The exact error message (a screenshot is helpful)