thread Deposit return scheme in Online Store

Deposit return scheme

Mf85 — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:48:03 GMT

Has anyone figured out an appropriate way to account for the deposit return scheme. I know someone has suggested a forced modifier but then that means we're charging VAT on the DRS.

Re: Deposit return scheme

Summer2024 — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 19:29:52 GMT

Hi, @Mf85 !

I'm going to outline below a better workaround than using modifiers 😄

Create a separate “Deposit Return Scheme” item in your Item Library.
Set the price (e.g., €0.15 or €0.25 depending on the container size).
Assign it to its own VAT rate = 0% (or “No VAT”).
At checkout, add the item alongside the product (like a soft drink).

That way your receipt shows both the product and the deposit line separately, VAT is only calculated on the product, not the deposit, and reports keep deposits trackable for remittance but don’t inflate your VAT return.

From an accounting perspective:

You’ll still need to reconcile collected deposits vs. those refunded to customers when containers are returned.
Having DRS as a standalone item makes this reporting cleaner, since you can run a report specifically on that item.
It may take a little extra training at checkout (staff must remember to add the DRS item), though some businesses duplicate drink items (e.g., “500ml Coke + Deposit”) to automate it.

In conclusion, don’t use modifiers, they’ll incorrectly apply VAT. Instead, create a separate DRS item set to 0% VAT and add it to orders alongside eligible products. This keeps VAT compliant and makes it easy to track deposits for accounting.

I hope this helps!

Re: Deposit return scheme

MarianneFullert — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 19:40:14 GMT

Thanks for your reply! It's pretty bad that we are still having to figure out workarounds for this! The

Problem is expecting staff to remember to add it when they're really busy!

Re: Deposit return scheme

Summer2024 — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 19:42:24 GMT

Oh, for sure. Maybe keep a workflow reminder posted next to your registers?

Re: Deposit return scheme

MozzaPaul — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:04:03 GMT

How to address this for online purchases?