Submit a MTD for VAT return for a client in QuickBooks Online

This article is for accountants who are eligible, or have clients who are eligible for Making Tax Digital (MTD) or signed up for MTD voluntarily. 

It takes up to 72 hours to complete the MTD for VAT sign up process and customers that pay by Direct Debit should sign up 7 working days before their submission deadline.

Note: HMRC’s MTD rules are changing. Plan ahead to make sure you and your clients are ready ahead of the April 2022 deadline and beyond. Soon, almost all small businesses will have to start using MTD-compliant digital accounting software.

Before you get started

Before you can submit a MTD VAT return, make sure you:

• Set up your agent services account and sign up eligible clients
• Turn on MTD and connect QuickBooks to HMRC

To submit a MTD VAT return for your client

Click here to enlarge image

1. Log into your client's QuickBooks Online account and check that the VAT registration number and information is correct in Account and settings.
2. Go to Taxes and Submit Return for the VAT period you want to submit.
3. On the Prepare VAT return page, select Submit to HMRC.
4. The 'Submit your VAT return to HMRC' window appears. Read through the declaration and tick the I declare the information is true and complete checkbox, followed by Yes, I want to submit button.
5. Your VAT submission will begin and may take a few seconds. Stay on this page while the connection is in progress.
6. Once the submission is complete and successful, you'll see the 'Approved by HMRC' message.
7. If you choose to, select Record Payment in QuickBooks immediately or you can do this later.

*QuickBooks MTD software currently supports Standard, Cash and Flat Rate schemes. QuickBooks Bridging Software supports Standard and Cash schemes. Businesses whose home currency is not GBP are currently not supported for MTD.