Hi, 

I'm getting "we can't connect you to HMRC right now' error on the TAXES page, however, quickbooks is showing that i am successfully connected to HMRC in Advanced Settings - for payroll and VAT. 

When I review the VAT settings, my new VAT number is showing but it keeps defaulting to my old VAT number start date.. Is this my issue and how to I resolve it? The new VAT number is correctly showing. But i can't proceed!

I seem to be suck in the 'Take Action' loop with no solutions. 

Thank you Community in advance!!

Hello, @Kylie23. Let me assist you today so you're able to get around the error you've experienced when connecting to HMRC. 

It's important to check the email confirmation from HMRC after trying to link your QuickBooks Online account with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for submitting a return. This will confirm if the connection was successful, which can take up to 72 hours.

To explain further what you should do when seeing the error, check out this article: Fix MTD issues and errors in QuickBooks Online.

For more insights about how the latest Making Tax Digital (MTD) changes and how it affects your business: Everything you need to know about Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT with QuickBooks Online.

You can always reply or reach out to us again if you have any further questions about managing your taxes and other transactions. I'll always be ready to assist you.

I am currently closing my limited company (trading for less than a year and not VAT registered). I only had a couple of transactions, so I have completed the final accounts myself. I expected to be able to submit my tax return to HMRC using Quickbooks.

Currently, I can only find information on two things, neither of which apply:

- Submitting a VAT return (not relevant)

- Or using Quickbooks Online Accountant (doesn't appear to be the right software for my needs).

Do you have a solution for submitting my own limited company accounts to HMRC at Quickbooks?

Thanks.

Hello DTJ8989, thanks for posting on this thread, Your accountant can do this for you through workpapers, it is an accountant tools so only your accountant will be able to do this for you, you can't do it yourself.

Good luck in getting anywhere.  I have had the same problem for over a year now, and now getting anywhere with it.

My accountant can put my VAT through in quickbooks her end, but I cant.  I have to submit CIS through HMRC website, total nightmare.  Getting through to HMRC they say its quickbooks, quickbooks say its HMRC, getting no where. 

We have the error message - We’re having trouble connecting to HMRC, don’t worry it’s normally fixed within a few hours. It’s been like it ages. Have tried a few things but no luck.

I had this and have found my reply that I posted a few months ago:

I found some help on another thread - in a nutshell if you go to the VAT page, edit settings, then turn MTD off on the toggle button. Then click on any returns that might say pending, when it opens click the green button that says Mark as Filed, do this for all of the open returns that have already been filed until the one you need is available. Then switch the MTD back on and it should work....at least it did for me! I spent an hour or two reading through loads of threads on here! Good luck! Let me know how you get on. Ali. :)

It might help!

Thank you! I have spent ages trying to sort it too and read so many threads! It seems to have somehow suddenly sorted itself, annoying but I’m glad it’s sorted! Thanks for your help!

Hello, I am trying to file my VAT return for the 3rd qtr and QBO is stating that it cannot connect to HMRC.
I have trued to remove and replace my VAT log in details without getting the connection that I need

Thank you for joining the conversation, Michael.

I also appreciate that you included a screenshot to your question. I recommend clicking on the Take Action button to see if there are any specific instructions or steps you need to follow in order to successfully submit your tax return.

Another step to fixing the issue could be simply checking if you have any open obligations with HMRC. If you have outstanding obligations, HMRC won't process your return until they are fulfilled. Ensure all obligations are settled before submitting your return.

Access your HMRC online account to review open obligations, including any taxes due. Confirm everything is up to date before attempting to submit a return through MTD again.

I'm also sharing this article: Fix MTD issues and errors in QuickBooks Online. This additional reference will be helpful in addressing any further concerns or difficulties you may encounter while filing your taxes with the HMRC.

If you need further assistance with your tax filing process, please don't hesitate to reach out. Take care and have a great day!

Hi - Sorry for resurrecting an old post but I have exactly the same issue.  When I go to authorise I put in my personal tax account so it didn't connect.  However whenever I try to redo it goes straight to that error page.  I have tried disconnecting from MTD and redoing but same behaviour.

Hello there, DazI'm here to assist you with fixing MTD issues and errors in QuickBooks Online (QBO) so you can resume filing VAT returns. 

The error We can't connect to HMRC right now would usually show up if: 

• The user ID and password are incorrect. 
• Incorrect VAT registration number entered in the VAT settings
• The current VAT return period has not ended yet. 

To fix this, let's first enable the MTD. Then, you'll have to authorise QuickBooks first to interact with HMRC. Here's how:  

1. Proceed to the Gear icon, then select Account and Settings.
2. Choose Advanced on the left menu in the Accounts and Settings page, then click the Making Tax Digital header to expand the section. 
3. Select on Learn how to connect, then click on Let's go on the Get started with digital tax page. 

Once done, follow the steps below to complete the process:

1. After clicking on Let's go, you'll be directed to the HMRC page as shown below. Select Continue to sign in.
2. Enter your HMRC credentials to sign in.
3. Choose on Grant authority to continue. Then the authorisation process will begin. 
4. You'll receive a 'You're connected to HMRC' message as below.
5. Choose Continue when the process has been completed, click on Take a look. 

For more troubleshooting options, please visit this article: Fix MTD issues and errors in QuickBooks Online.

Whether you want to know more about MTD or have a burning question about the new changes and how it affects your business, this guide has everything you need to know.

Let us know if you still have more questions about tracking taxes and submitting VAT returns by leaving a reply.

Hi,

Thanks for the response.  

• An accountant set up the MTD connection.

This is true for me.  My accountant set up the connection but we have agreed that I will submit the VAT return now.  Are we not able to both be connected?  If not how do I change the connection so I can submit?  

Thanks,

Darren

Hello there, Daz. 

If the connection for Making Tax Digital (MTD) has been set up, the option to prepare a VAT return will automatically be displayed in your QuickBooks Online (QBO) account. However, if you don't see this option available, it may indicate that it's not yet time for you to file or submit your VAT return.

If your accountant was the one who initially set up the connection and it is no longer accurate, I recommend disabling the MTD feature in QuickBooks. This will help minimise the risk of any incorrect VAT postings.

Let me walk you through the steps for a seamless process:
 

1. In your QBO account, click on the Gear icon, then select Account and settings.
2. Go to the Advanced tab, then click on the pencil icon next to the Making Tax Digital section.
3. Select Learn how to Disconnect and follow the steps. Note: You can always turn on MTD for VAT and authorise QuickBooks again.

For detailed information, kindly visit: Turn off VAT in QuickBooks Online.
 

To ensure that you can successfully file and submit your VAT return, I recommend contacting HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs). They will be able to assist you in adjusting your filing information accordingly.
 

Additionally, I recommend exploring this article that provides detailed information on how to adjust your VAT liability, what happens after making a VAT adjustment, and important considerations to keep in mind before submitting a VAT return: Make VAT adjustments in QuickBooks Online.
 

Please let me know how it turns out by adding a comment below. I'm always around and prepared to offer any necessary assistance you may require.

Hi,

I've entered the wrong Gateway credentials and I need to re-enter them but QBO doesn't allow me to re-start the process. Can someone help?

Thanks,

Mo

Hi Mo,

Thank you for joining the conversation. Let me continue to help you out.

Are you encountering an error message when you try to resubmit your return? Let's go through some steps to check if it's a browser issue. Here's what you can do:

1. Sign in to QBO using an incognito or private window.
2. Try submitting your return while in this private browser.
3. If you're able to submit your return without any issues, it's likely a cache problem.
4. To resolve this, you can clear your cache files.

Please let me know how the steps work for you. Take care

quick books MTD issue and error CLIENT_OR_AGENT_NOT_AUTHORISED. I have not changed anything since my last return

Hi info1789, thanks for joining this thread. This error is one of the most common issues encountered when using MTD services in QuickBooks Online. This message may appear if:

- You need to reauthorise the connection between QuickBooks Online and HMRC (reauthorisation is required every 18 months) 
- You haven't entered the correct credentials for MTD provided by HMRC when setting up MTD in QuickBooks.
- The VAT registration number in QuickBooks doesn't match HMRC's records. If you've been issued a new VAT registration number, you'll need to update this in your VAT settings.

We'll send an email when its time to re-authorise. If you haven't received this, you can still re-authorise by disconnecting MTD in your account (click the Cog > Account & settings > Advanced > Making tax digital > Select Learn how to disconnect and follow the steps). Once complete, refresh the page and select Learn how to connect. 

me too

got same problem.

phoned hmrc waited 40 minutes to speak to someone who  said quickbooks has to sort it .

Hello info1789, thanks for getting back to us here. Have you followed the steps provided above to disconnect and reconnect MTD in QuickBooks?

Are you registered to submit MTD on behalf of your business, or did your accountant register this for you on their Agent Services Account? 

Hi,

I am still getting the attached error when trying to connect to HMRC. Please can you help me with this?

We have't submitted anything in the past 72 hours and HMRC told us to contact you to fix the error.

Thank you

I appreciate you for chiming in on this thread, Riccardo. I'll be happy to share some troubleshooting steps so you can connect to His Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

If you're getting the error "We can't connect to HMRC right now," it's possible that:

• The credentials you used to connect QBO to HMRC aren't authorised to file a Value Added Tax (VAT).
• There are no open obligations with HMRC.
• The current VAT return period date in QBO has not yet ended or doesn't match with HMRC.
• The VAT registration number is incorrect.

To rectify this, ensure you utilize the correct login credentials when submitting your VAT return. Additionally, verify the filing period in QBO if it matches the HMRC. Then, review if the VAT registration number is accurate. To do that:

1. Go to Taxes and select the VAT tab.
2. Click the Edit VAT dropdown button, then select Edit settings.
3. On the Edit HM Revenue & Customs (VAT) Settings page, ensure you have the correct 9-digit VAT registration number. This field should only contain a number format without letters or spaces. 
4. Click Save.

Once done, reconnect to the HMRC. If the issue persists, refresh the connection by disconnecting and reconnecting the Making Tax Digital (MTD). Here's how: 

1. Go to the Gear icon and select Account and Settings.
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. Go to the Making Tax Digital section and click Learn how to disconnect.
4. Follow the onscreen procedure to finish the process.
5. Reconnect your MTD and resume to submit your VAT returns.

Moreover, view the list of transactions that are included in each box on the VAT return by running a VAT Detail report in QBO.

Let me know whenever you have questions concerning VAT filing. The Community is here to help anytime. Keep safe, and have a great rest of the day!

Ok, I redid all the steps as you mentioned, checked the VAT registration number, etc. but I still get the above screenshot

I did another check and our next VAT return is due in about 3 months. I have "The VAT Return dates are currently March, June, September and December" in HMRC so which month should I place in "When do you need to start calculating your VAT from?" of QB? I tried October but no luck

Hi Ricardo, as your next return isn't due for 3 months it's likely that there are no open obligations being sent from HMRC. QuickBooks will automatically sync the data once this is sent via the MTD connection. So that we can confirm this, please begin a chat where we can use your VAT registration number to check this over on our system.