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QuickBooks
Making Tax Digital

REGISTERING FOR MAKING TAX DIGITAL

Register for Making Tax Digital and get set up for VAT returns in an instant. Use QuickBooks digital software to help you become compliant with MTD regulations.

Not sure when you need to start submitting your VAT via MTD? Check our guide here.

Get started

Making Tax Digital ready - No commitment, cancel anytime - HMRC recognised

Making Tax Digital

Set up Making Tax Digital in QuickBooks

Making Tax Digital (MTD) has been introduced by HMRC to help individuals and businesses to get their tax right. It means many people are leaving their spreadsheets or paper records behind and moving over to a new system. 

At the moment, Making Tax Digital is all about VAT submissions. But over the coming months and years it will include Income Tax and Corporation Tax too.

Explore our making tax digital software or our guide to MTD.

Set up Making Tax Digital in QuickBooks

Getting started or checking back in?

Choose the step below that matches your current position

A

I need to set up VAT in QuickBooks

To set up VAT in QuickBooks you'll need the following information:

Your VAT registration number

(this is on your VAT registration certificate issued by HMRC)

Your submission frequency

most common frequency is quarterly

Your VAT registration scheme number

You’ll find this on the VAT registration certificate sent to you by HMRC

Your current submission period

The current period you are submitting VAT for. This is typically monthly or quarterly

Set up VAT in QuickBooks

Sign in

Sign in

Select Taxes in the left-hand menu

Select Taxes in the left-hand menu

Select Set Up VAT to activate VAT

Select Set Up VAT to activate VAT

Fill in the following fields

Fill in the following fields

Add the start of the current VAT period

Add the start of the current VAT period

Add submission frequency

Add submission frequency

Choose the appropriate VAT accounting scheme (usually Standard Accrual or Standard Cash schemes)

Choose the appropriate VAT accounting scheme (usually Standard Accrual or Standard Cash schemes)

Add your VAT registration number

Add your VAT registration number

Add other tax options if required

Add other tax options if required

To view your VAT codes simply choose Taxes on the left-hand menu. Then select on the Edit VAT dropdown list, followed by Edit rates.

To view your VAT codes simply choose Taxes on the left-hand menu. Then select on the Edit VAT dropdown list, followed by Edit rates.

View step-by-step guide

Once you’ve set up VAT in QuickBooks, you need to sign up for MTD with HMRC

B

Authorise QuickBooks to interact with HMRC

Login and go to Taxes and select Let's go. If you have dismissed the MTD message, follow the steps to enable MTD.

Login and go to Taxes and select Let's go.

How to get set up

Select the Gear icon, then Account and Settings.

Select the Gear icon, then Account and Settings.

In the Accounts and Settings page, select Advanced on the left menu.

In the Accounts and Settings page, select Advanced on the left menu. Then, select the Making Tax Digital header to expand the section. Select Learn how to connect.

On the Get started with digital tax page, select on Let's go.

On the Get started with digital tax page, select onLet's go.

Upon selecting on Let's go, you'll be directed to the HMRC page. Select Continue to sign in.

Upon selecting on Let's go, you'll be directed to the HMRC page. Select Continue to sign in.

Enter your HMRC credentials to sign in.

Enter your HMRC credentials to sign in.

Once logged in, select Grant authority to continue. The authorisation process will begin.

Once logged in, select Grant authority to continue. The authorisation process will begin.

Once the authorisation has been given, you will receive a You're connected to HMRC message as below. Select Continue.

Once the authorisation has been given, you will receive a You're connected to HMRC message as below. Select Continue.

When the process has been completed, select Take a look.

When the process has been completed, select Take a look.

Now that your QuickBooks is authorised to interact with HMRC, you will need to reauthorise QuickBooks every 18 months based on HMRC's guidelines.

View step-by-step guide
Login and go to Taxes and select Let's go.

Once you’ve authorised QuickBooks to interact with HMRC you’re now ready to submit VAT using MTD

C

Submit VAT using MTD

At this stage you’ll have completed your VAT set up, signed up for Making Tax Digital via HMRC, and authorised QuickBooks to interact with HMRC.

At this stage you’ll have completed your VAT set up

Make sure that you've received an email confirmation from HMRC before submitting a VAT Return using MTD. It'll arrive approximately 72 hours after you've opted into MTD on HMRC's website.

Make sure that you’ve received an email confirmation from HMRC before submitting a VAT Return using MTD.

How to get set up

Sign in QuickBooks

Sign in QuickBooks

Go to Taxes, then select VAT.

Go to Taxes, then select VAT.

Select Prepare return.

Select Prepare return.

Check the figures for each box. When you are ready to submit your VAT Return, select Submit to HMRC.

Check the figures for each box. When you are ready to submit your VAT Return, select Submit to HMRC.

On the next page, select the I declare the information is true and complete the box, followed by Submit to HMRC.

On the next page, select the I declare the information is true and complete the box, followed by Submit to HMRC.

While the submission is taking place, you'll be shown a page as above. Do not close this page until the receipt confirmation message has been received.

While the submission is taking place, you'll be shown a page as above. Do not close this page until the receipt confirmation message has been received.

Once your submission has been completed, you'll receive a message. Select Done to close the window.

Once your submission has been completed, you'll receive a message. Select Done to close the window.

Once the return has been submitted to HMRC you'll receive an email confirmation containing a receipt number along with information of your return. Below is an example.

View step-by-step guide
Once the return has been submitted to HMRC you'll receive an email confirmation containing a receipt number along with information of your return. Below is an example.

Once you've completed this step you're all done, congratulations. You're all set for your next VAT submission. Remember that you'll need to reauthorise QuickBooks every 18 months as per HMRCs guidelines.

Once the return has been submitted to HMRC you'll receive an email confirmation containing a receipt number along with information of your return. Below is an example.

Let's build your business together

Find your plan

QuickBooks Making Tax Digital for VAT software is available to all QuickBooks Simple Start, Essential, Plus and Advanced subscribers. Use of QuickBooks MTD for VAT software and bridging software must be aligned with HMRC's eligibility requirements and includes additional setup between the small business and HMRC.

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.

Receive a 90% discount on the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Simple Start or 90% discount on the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Essentials or 90% discount on the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Plus or 90% discount on the current monthly price for QuickBooks Online Advanced for the first 6 months of service, starting from date of enrolment, followed by the then-current monthly price. Your account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis until you cancel. You must select the Buy Now option and you will not be eligible for a 30-day free trial. Offer valid for new QuickBooks Online customers only. No limit on the number of subscriptions ordered. You can cancel at any time by calling 0808 168 9533. Discount cannot be combined with any other QuickBooks Online offers. Terms, conditions, features, pricing, service and support are subject to change without notice. All prices shown exclude VAT.

Enjoy 90% off for 12 months on the current fees when you pay for your QuickBooks Online subscription on an annual, upfront basis. If you cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription within the pre-paid 12-month period, you will not be eligible for a refund, but will retain full access to your QuickBooks Online subscription for the remainder of the 12-month period. Alternatively if you wish to receive a refund then you need to cancel by calling us on 0808 234 5337 within the pre-paid 12 month period and we will provide a pro-rata refund and deactivate your account. Unless cancelled by you prior, your annual subscription will auto-renew on the 12 month anniversary of your sign-up date using the billing details you have given us. Discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change.

Receive 90% off the current monthly subscription price for QuickBooks Core or QuickBooks Advanced Payroll for the first 6 months of service, starting from the date you subscribe to the service, followed by the then-current monthly price. Your account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis for the subscription fee and for all pay runs processed in the previous month, until you cancel. You must select the Buy Now option, and you will not be eligible for a 30-day free trial. Offer valid for new QuickBooks Online customers only. No limit on the number of subscriptions ordered. You can cancel at any time by calling 0808 168 9533. Discount cannot be combined with any other QuickBooks Online offers. Terms, conditions, features, pricing, service and support are subject to change without notice. All prices shown exclude VAT.

Discount valid until the 30 April 2024.

Receive 90% off the current monthly subscription price for QuickBooks Advanced for the first 6 months of service, starting from the date of enrolment, followed by the then monthly price. Your account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis for the subscription fee and for all pay runs processed in the previous month, until you cancel. You must select the Buy Now option and will not receive a one month trial. Offer valid for new QuickBooks Online customers only. No limit on the number of subscriptions ordered. You can cancel at any time by calling 0808 239 9692. Discount cannot be combined with any other QuickBooks Online offers. Terms, conditions, features, pricing, service and support are subject to change without notice. All prices shown exclude VAT.

QuickBooks Advanced Payroll allows you to automatically submit information to the following pension providers: NEST, The Peoples Pension, Smart Pensions, Aviva and NOW:Pensions

Free onboarding sessions are offered to all newly subscribed customers and trialists, excluding customers on our QuickBooks Self-Employed product. We offer 1 session per customer and reserve the right to remove this offering at anytime. Invitations are sent via email and in-product messaging once signup has been completed. A link will be included in the message for you to book a session using our calendar tool.

Mileage tracking is available on QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Online on iOS and Android only.

These terms apply to QuickBooks UK customers only. Bulk-pricing discount offer is valid only if you are signing up for more than one QuickBooks Online subscription with each order. View terms and conditions for multiple accounts pricing here. To inquire further about the bulk-pricing discount offer, please call 0808 168 9533

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