How do you get VAT recovery on a bad debt to appear in box 4 of a return. The help will bring it up as a negative in box 1.

Hello Victor90, 

Welcome to the Community page, 

Bad debt VAT recovery is a reduction of the VAT owed on sales (negative in box 1) it is not VAT reclaimed from purchases (positive in box 4). If you have a look at this article it will help you.