Direct Submissions to HMRC

VAT Return Manager

The Filing Process

VAT Return Manager

Overview

VAT Return Manager pulls the VAT Return details out of your TASBooks/FirstBooks program ready to be submitted to HMRC, as part of the new Making Tax Digital (MTD) arrangements from April 2019. It meets the HMRC requirements as the 9 box VAT totals are calculated (by TASBooks/FirstBooks) and pulled directly rather than being typed. 

The form is split into 3 segments. 

On the left hand side, there are 2 form elements. At the top is a list of VAT Returns pulled from TASBooks/FirstBooks that, according to TAS, are unfiled. At the bottom are a list of VAT Returns that have been filed. If you see old records in the unfiled list, then you haven’t marked them as filed in TAS.

On the right hand side, you see a visual graphic of the VAT Return details, showing your company name, VAT Registration number, the dates being reported on and the values of the 9 boxes.

To view a return, click the Ref cell to see the details. Depending on if the return has been filed or not, you’ll see a ‘File Your Return’ option under the visual graphic.

File Your Return

When you have created your Return in TASBooks/FirstBooks, then begin the filing process by clicking ‘File Your Return’. Clicking this button tells Tax Manager to connect to the HMRC portal and submit the return. See below for step by step instructions.

The Filing Process

The filing process can be summarised as follows:

  1. Create a new VAT Return in TASBooks/FirstBooks (as you would have pre-Making Tax Digital)
  2. Open Tax Manager (irregardless of whether you have the MultiTAS Tax Manager add-on or the standalone Tax Manager program)
  3. If you are running Tax Manager for the first time you’ll be asked “Submit your VAT Return direct from Tax Manager?” – click Yes to this
  4. Choose the Return to be filed from the list of UnFiled Returns in the top left corner of the screen
  5. Click ‘File This Return’
  6. The first time you submit a return you will need to authorise Tax Manager in the HMRC portal – enter your government gateway details then click “Grant Authority”
  7. Finally a notice confirms that you are making a legal declaration that the information is true and complete – click Yes to submit the return
  8. The return will be filed with HMRC – if successful then Tax Manager creates a log file plus a PDF Receipt (showing the Receipt ID and date/time the return was accepted)
  9. In the unlikely event that the return fails, you’ll be advised why and asked if you want to view the log. Please do so and email it to Infoplex Support for investigation

Last updated: 02/04/2020