How can I include an expense for the company on the vat return that wasn't paid from the company bank account?

Hello Jane-dent

Thank you for joining us on the UK Community Page for QuickBooks Online.

You can record this expense as normal, except when you select the bank account, use an account (that you'll need to have created already, or create one) - which represents the fact it came from another account, such as a personal one.

Then, when you pay the expense back from the business to whomever paid it, you can record that as a transfer and zero the additional account out.

This does happen from time to time, we often get asked about it - you can also use a Journal Entry to represent this expense, for example such as doubling this expense against an owners equity account but you'd need to be instructed on whether this is appropriate by a qualified professional.