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RayW
Level 3

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

Hi

I signed up for Making Tax Digital over a week ago. When I tried to set it up in Quickbooks I get an error message that reads 'The VAT accounting dates don't match up' (see the attached screenshot). Quickbooks seems to think the accounting date is one day later than the HMRC.

 

I called the number on the error message but the guy on the helpdesk didn't seem to know much more than me about it. Eventually, after some discussion with colleagues, he told me that they were going to request an unfiling of previous VAT submissions with the HMRC. That, he said, should fix the problem within two or three days.

We're coming to the end of the month when we need to submit our next VAT return. I would really like to get this sorted before then. Can anyone help?

Solved
Best answer April 01, 2019

Accepted Solutions
RayW
Level 3

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

Hi Nick2404

 

Sorry to take so long replying. I just saw your message

 

Yes, the QuickBooks customer services team helped me to get it straight. It turned out the problem arose on our last VAT filing. We filed a day early and that put the next one out. Quickbooks thought we should file a return for the one day that was missing from the month.

 

The fix was to get the support team to unfile the last filing so that I could refile it in QuickBooks with the corrrect end date. All is good now.

View solution in original post

12 REPLIES 12
RaymondJayO
Moderator

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

Hi there, @RayW

 

First of all, I appreciate you contacting our support team to help fix the error when turning on the MTD last week. 

 

I've checked here on my end if there's an ongoing investigation about the "The VAT accounting dates don't match up." error and it's still open. Our product engineers are currently working to have a permanent fix. 

 

In line with this, it'll be best to contact our QuickBooks Online (QBO) Support Team. This way, one of our specialists will add your account to the affected list of companies. They'll be able to notify you about the issue's status via email. You can reach out to them through this link: QBO Customer Care Team

 

After the investigation will be fixed, you’ll receive an email within 72 hours to confirm that you can submit returns using software that’s compatible with Making Tax Digital for VAT. Here's an article you can refer to: Making Tax Digital for VAT

 

That should point you in the right direction. Stay in touch with me how it goes after contacting them, @RayW. I'm only a post away if you have any follow-up questions or concerns.

RayW
Level 3

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

HI there @RaymondJayO 

 

I do have one concern.

Your post suggests I will not be able to file our VAT return until this problem is fixed. Our return is due for filing next week. If I can't do that, we are liable to pay a penalty to the HMRC.

Do you have any suggestions on how I can avoid this?

 

Regards

RayW

TaliaI
QuickBooks Team

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

Hello RayW,

 

We would suggest speaking to HMRC - let them know you are having technical issues with your third party software. They may have a workaround to allow you to file in time.

 

Thanks,

 

Talia

Nick2404
Level 1

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

I have the same issue, did you resolve yours?

John C
QuickBooks Team

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

Hi Nick2404

 

What is the end date of the open VAT period within the Taxes section?

Nick2404
Level 1

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

This only happened when I did my return for March ending 31/03, the return has been accepted at HMRC, and I have checked with them, so the only open period i have is the current april return that I will complete and the end of the month

I have tried changing the date but I get the same message 
RayW
Level 3

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

Hi Nick2404

 

Sorry to take so long replying. I just saw your message

 

Yes, the QuickBooks customer services team helped me to get it straight. It turned out the problem arose on our last VAT filing. We filed a day early and that put the next one out. Quickbooks thought we should file a return for the one day that was missing from the month.

 

The fix was to get the support team to unfile the last filing so that I could refile it in QuickBooks with the corrrect end date. All is good now.

RayW
Level 3

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

Hi John C

 

The problem was the end date on the previous filing but it's all fixed now. Thanks for the response though.

 

Nick2404
Level 1

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

Thanks for the fix, do I have to re submit to HMRC? As I had a notification saying all is good at that end, sorry to be a pain, just want to get it right first time!!

RayW
Level 3

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

No, I don't think so. I contacted the HMRC thinking that the unfiling was with them but it turned out to be a process within QuickBooks. The guy at HMRC confirmed that everything seemed normal at their end. Your circumstances might be different though so you might want to check.

 

The QuickBooks support desk should be able to advise on that one though.

AlGrant
Level 2

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up

We had this error/message when filing our first return through QBO.  Eventually, I found a fix that was quick and easy to apply once I found out where to look.


Posting here in case anybody else gets this issue:

We successfully filed our return for 01/02/2019 - 30/04/2019 but QBO showed the 'VAT accounting dates don't match up' message.


When I looked in the settings under 'Edit VAT' > 'Edit settings' it showed the 'Effective date for new scheme' was set to 30/04/2019.  I believe this was the date where MTD submissions become mandatory for us, but we had started using QBO/MTD early.

 

Changing this date to 01/02/2019 and saving cleared the message and changed it to 'It’s time to record that payment.'

 

If you're seeing this error on your first MTD submission via QBO, it might be worth checking that date.

 

 

TaliaI
QuickBooks Team

VAT Accounting Dates Don't Match Up


Hello AlGrant,

 

Thank you for your suggestion.

 

The new connection with HMRC means that all information within QuickBooks has to match the information HMRC have on their side. Usually this message appears after filing a return - this is because QuickBooks has marked that period as filed, but as the HMRC site can take up to 72 hours to update, it may not show as submitted on their side yet.

 

We would usually suggest to either wait in case this is the case, or attempt to disconnect and reconnect the MTD connection to refresh it.

 

The date mentioned above would not usually affect the connection, however the process of saving and going back into Taxes may have caused the system to update.

 

Thanks,

 

Talia

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