Ecuador IVA (VAT) Return — Formulario 104

Confirm the taxpayer's RUC, tax regime, and filing period before any work begins. Establish whether the client is Regimen General (files Formulario 104 monthly) or RIMPE — RIMPE Negocios Populares pay a fixed annual quota and do not file IVA at all; RIMPE Emprendedores file semi-annually. Flag ZEDE entities, artisans with JNDA registration, and oil-sector service contracts for specialist escalation.

Gather all source documents for the period: SRI-authorised electronic invoices (facturas electrónicas), comprobantes de retención received, import declarations (DAIs) for imported goods, and the bank statement (Banco Pichincha CSV or equivalent). Confirm every input IVA credit is backed by an SRI-authorised electronic comprobante — paper invoices and unauthorised documents are not deductible under LRTI Art. 66.

Classify every income and expense transaction against the Formulario 104 line structure. Apply the 15% standard rate (from 1 April 2024), tarifa 0% for exempt supplies, and zero-rate with full input credit recovery for exports (Lines 405/406). Self-assess reverse charge at 15% for non-resident digital services (Google, AWS, Zoom, etc.) with output recorded at Line 411 and input at Line 510. Block input IVA on entertainment, personal use, and passenger vehicles. For mixed operations compute the Factor de Proporcionalidad.

Identify all purchases where the taxpayer must act as withholding agent under LRTI Art. 63. Issue comprobantes de retención within five business days of receipt of the supplier invoice. Record withheld amounts at Lines 721 onwards. Confirm that retenciones received from customers are recorded as tax credits. Verify that all comprobantes de retención are electronic and SRI-authorised.

Populate Formulario 104 in SRI en Línea using the classified totals. Key lines: 401 (domestic sales 15%), 405 (export goods), 406 (export services), 411 (reverse-charge output), 500 (purchases with IVA credit), 510 (reverse-charge input), 601 (total output IVA), 602 (total input credit after factor), 699 (net IVA payable/credit), 721 (IVA withheld by agents), 902 (final balance). Cross-check Line 699 against the workbook net and reconcile any difference before proceeding.

Submit Formulario 104 via SRI en Línea before the RUC-digit deadline (10th–28th of the month following the period). If IVA is payable, arrange payment through the SRI portal or an authorised financial institution before the same deadline to avoid surcharges and default interest under the Código Tributario. Retain the submission confirmation (número de trámite) and payment receipt. Note that a credit balance may be carried forward to Line 612 of the next return or a formal refund request may be filed.