6 Facts about Making Tax Digital

Does the thought of ‘Making Tax Digital’ give you nightmares? How on earth does it work and how will you have the time to manage it?

There’s no escaping it. Making Tax Digital is part of the Government’s Tax Administration Strategy and is a requirement, not an option. It’s here to stay and its’ not going away!

Making Tax Digital, or MTD for short, has been introduced by HMRC to simplify the tax system for everyone. The Government believes that, by digitising the process it will transform the way we manage our taxes. Through digitisation, the process will become more efficient, more effective and easier to get right – avoiding those loathsome tax errors that can deliver such pain.

Ultimately the aim is to include all taxpayers in the digital process. It’s being delivered in steps to ensure there is less room for error or overloading the system. Businesses registered for VAT are the first to be involved, whilst non-VAT registered businesses will have to start filing their Income Tax returns over the next few years.

Benefits of Making Tax Digital

In our opinion it’s not a negative. There are advantages to Making Tax Digital. Once you’ve got your processes in place. Benefits include:-

So, with that in mind, here are some key facts to be aware of and to bear in mind:

6 points to consider for MTD for VAT

1. What is MTD for VAT?

All businesses registered for VAT, with a taxable turnover of £85,000 and above, have been required to sign up to MTD for VAT since 2019. That means keeping digital records and using MTD-compatible software to submit returns.

2. Compliant Software

There are a multitude of software options to choose from. The simplest way of finding out if a platform is compatible with MTD for VAT is to check on the government website. We would also recommend that you speak to your accountant to ascertain if they are a partner for any of the platforms as this will make it easier for exchanging information.

The team here at Dominic Hill use Xero, Quick Books and FreeAgent on a daily basis and can provide any advice to support you on your journey.

3. Keeping track of the dates

The government is constantly reviewing the plans and release dates for MTD. If you are self-employed, or a landlord, you will need to provide digital records for your Income Tax in the not-too-distant future. The best place to check is the HMRC website found here.

Making Tax Digital for Corporation Tax is on the horizon, but HMRC have yet to set a date for its introduction.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is currently in the pilot test stage, with many businesses and agents volunteering to be part of test run. There may still be places available for individuals or businesses to sign up and volunteer to be part of the pilot. You can check here.

4. How long does it take to sign up?

You won’t automatically be signed up to MTD for VAT. This is because HMRC needs to verify your information and migrate your record to their MTD system. It can take up to 72 hours to receive confirmation from them.

You’ll need to sign up your business with HMRC using your existing Government Gateway Login and VAT Number. Once you’ve authorised your chosen software to connect with HMRC, you’ll be able to submit MTD VAT Returns directly from your software account.

5. As a business do I need to authorise a tax agent to submit VAT returns on my behalf?

Your accountant can submit on your behalf, but you have to authorise them to do so. If you want   Without the authorisation, they will not be able to access or submit your VAT Returns. Talk to your accountant and they can show you how easy it is.

6. What happens if I don’t comply?

HMRC will apply the same penalties as they currently impose for failure to keep or preserve records for VAT purposes.  These can be found on the gov.uk website and can be as high as 100% of tax under-stated if HMRC deems the mistake to be careless or deliberate.

What if I just don’t want the hassle?

Above all, remember there is help at hand. The team at Dominic Hill can assist in tailoring a solution specifically to suit your requirements. We can provide you with as much or as little as you need, whether it’s just software selection, software training or full outsourcing.

Ready to talk?

If you would like to book an initial free consultation, or are already a client of ours and want to discuss your accountancy challenges contact us.