Purchases and suppliers
Log what you buy from suppliers, track what you owe each one, and capture deductible input VAT into SYSCOHADA account 4452 so your returns are correct.
Purchases are the other side of your business from sales: the goods and supplies you buy to run the shop. Recording them in CEMAC POS keeps your supplier balances straight, feeds accurate cost prices into your stock, and captures the input VAT you are entitled to reclaim.
A purchase links a supplier, one or more items, the amounts paid, and the VAT charged on the invoice. Done consistently, it turns a drawer of paper invoices into clean, reclaimable, auditable records.
How it works
When you record a purchase you pick the supplier, list the items and quantities, and enter the invoice totals. The TVA on a supplier invoice is deductible input VAT: in SYSCOHADA it posts to account 4452, État, TVA récupérable, and it offsets the output VAT you collect on sales when you file. CEMAC POS keeps the two apart so your net VAT position is correct.
- Supplier — who you bought from; each keeps a running balance.
- Items and quantities — what came in, feeding stock and cost price.
- Deductible VAT (4452) — the input TVA you can reclaim from the invoice.
- Payment status — paid, partly paid, or on account (owed to the supplier).
A supplier account is a running ledger of what you owe. Record a purchase on credit and the balance rises; record a payment and it falls. At any moment you can see exactly what is outstanding to each supplier.
Record a purchase
- Open Purchases then New purchase, and choose the supplier (or add a new one).
- Add each item and the quantity received on the invoice.
- Enter the amounts as shown on the supplier invoice, including the TVA line.
- Confirm the deductible VAT posts to SYSCOHADA account 4452.
- Set the payment status — paid now, or on account if you owe it.
- Save. Stock and cost prices update, and the supplier balance adjusts.
Only reclaim input VAT from a compliant supplier invoice that shows the supplier tax number and the TVA amount. Keep the paper or scan attached to the purchase for your file in case the DGI asks.
Common errors and how to fix them
| Message / symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Deductible VAT is missing from the return | The purchase was entered with no TVA line | Edit the purchase and add the VAT so it posts to account 4452. |
| Supplier balance never goes down | Payments are recorded as new purchases, not payments | Record money paid as a supplier payment against the balance, not a purchase. |
| Cost prices did not update after a purchase | Items were typed as free text, not linked to products | Re-enter the lines by selecting existing products so stock and cost update. |
| VAT reclaimed on a non-compliant invoice | Supplier invoice lacks a tax number or TVA breakdown | Do not reclaim; record it VAT-inclusive as a cost until a valid invoice arrives. |
| Same invoice recorded twice | The purchase was saved from two devices offline | Delete the duplicate; keep one record so the supplier balance is right. |
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
What is account 4452?
In the SYSCOHADA chart it is État, TVA récupérable — the input VAT on your purchases that offsets the VAT you collect on sales.
Can I buy on credit and pay later?
Yes. Save the purchase on account and the supplier balance shows what you owe; record payments against it over time.
Does a purchase update my selling prices?
No. It updates stock quantity and cost price. You set the TTC selling price yourself.
Try it in your own shop
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