HMRC News: Windows 7 & 8.x no longer supported by HMRC to Submit MTD VAT Returns
On 9th May 2024, HMRC implemented a change to the MTD system that removed support for some of the older & more vulnerable security ciphers.
This means that any MTD users that are currently using Windows 8.1 or older will need to upgrade to at least a Windows 10 computer.
For information, a 'Cipher' is the procedure used to encrypt & decrypt data during transmission over the internet.
Also, Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 on 14th January 2020 and Windows 8.1 on 10th January 2023.
Provider of 'HMRC Recognised' MTD VAT Bridging Software
This software is called the 'NJT VAT Return Manager' and Supports: Excel, CSV files, Acorn Legal, Avanti, Exchequer, FBA-Promar, Infor SyteLine, IRIS, Kingswood,
More, Money Manager, Microsoft Business Dynamics, MYOB, Opsis Millenium, PC Law,
Pegasus Opera I, Perfect Books, Quickbooks, Sage, SAP Business One, SAP ERP, Solar, Tally R4.x (UK), TAS Books, VT, Xero & Zoho Books. (See 'Featured Software' below)
MTD Digital Bookkeeping software (In development)
This software is called 'NJT Digital Records' and is a combined bookkeeping solution for both VAT & Self Assessment (SA) developed in Microsoft Excel.
This has been designed for the more straightforward businesses and for use with either the 'NJT VAT Return Manager' or 'NJT Tax Return Manager' software. (See 'Featured Software' below)
This software is called the 'NJT Tax Return Manager' and is a combined Tax Return solution for both VAT & SA developed in Microsoft Access. (See 'Featured Software' below)
Neilson James Technology (NJT), based in Manchester, is a provider of software applications and a wide range of IT support services.
NJT has extensive experience in the development of VAT Return & customised Microsoft Office based applications.
In particular, development of Excel & Access based applications that interact with accounts software and HMRC.
NJT also possesses a wealth of operational, technical & project management experience within Government agencies & the IT industry spanning over 3 decades.
This includes the Magistrates' Courts Service and commerical software suppliers.
Making Tax Digital Overview
The following sections outline HMRC's Making Tax Digital (MTD) system including updated timescales on implementation.
Covering the mandatory 'MTD for VAT' and the current progress on 'MTD for Self-Assessment' (SA).
Click on the individual Title to view the details.
MTD for VAT became effective on 1st April 2019. Initially,
Taxpayers with a turnover above the VAT threshold (£85,000) were required to keep their records digitally (for VAT purposes only),
and Provide their VAT return information to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) through MTD compatible software.
From 1st April 2022, MTD for VAT was extended to include all VAT registered Taxpayers and Businesses.
For information:
HMRC currently has no plans to introduce a mandatory requirement to submit transaction level data (Supplemental information).
Therefore, Taxpayers only need to submit VAT Returns that contain the 9-box totals.
Terminology: Throughout this website, the generic term 'Taxpayer' covers to all types of Taxpayer, including Businesses and Individuals.
On 20th December 2022, HMRC announced a 2-year delay to the live 'MTD for SA' system implementation. It will now be mandated from April 2026, this time utilising a phased approach.
From April 2026, self-employed individuals and landlords with a turnover of more than £50,000 will be required (mandated) to keep digital records
and provide quarterly updates on their income and expenditure to HMRC through MTD-compatible software.
Those with a turnover of between £30,000 and up to £50,000 will need to do this from April 2027.
The UK Government will not extend MTD for SA to general partnerships in 2025.
The Government remains committed to introducing 'MTD for SA' to partnerships at a later date, to be confirmed.
The Government will review the needs of smaller businesses, and particularly those under the £30,000 threshold before taking further decisions.
This will look in detail at how the 'MTD for SA' service can be shaped to meet their needs and the best way for them to fulfil their Income Tax obligations.
Once that review is complete - and in consultation with businesses, taxpayers, agents, and others - the government will lay out the plans for any further mandation of 'MTD for SA'.
Featured Software
The following sections describe the software that is available now and software that is currently under development.
The Live 'Tax Return' software listed below is fully 'Recognised' by HMRC for use with HMRC's 'Making Tax Digital' system.
Software that is currently under development will be demonstrated to HMRC before gaining 'Recognised' status.
Click on the individual Title to view the details.
NJT offers a 'Bridging' software solution, named the 'NJT VAT Return Manager', for submitting MTD compliant VAT Returns to HMRC.
HMRC calls this 'Bridging software' as it's function is to provide an MTD compliant digital link between your accounting software and the HMRC system.
Prepared VAT Returns can be imported from a variety of accounting systems & formats,
including:
Excel, CSV files, Acorn Legal, Avanti, Exchequer, FBA-Promar, Infor SyteLine, IRIS, Kingswood,
More, Money Manager, Microsoft Business Dynamics, MYOB, Opsis Millenium, PC Law,
Pegasus Opera I, Perfect Books, Quickbooks, Sage, SAP Business One, SAP ERP, Solar, Tally R4.x (UK), TAS Books, VT, Xero & Zoho Books.
Please Note: Additional systems will be considered on a request basis. However,
Systems will require the facility to export VAT Returns to either a Text based file or an Excel file, in a consistent format and layout.
Prices
Single Business licences cost £40 per year.
Agency & Multiple Business licences start from £45 per year.
Applicable For:
Businesses with a single VAT account ('Business' licence)
Businesses with multiple VAT accounts (Available in 'Banded' licences (Including 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 & 100) and a 'BusinessPlus' licence for unlimited Businesses.
E.G. 'Business10', 'Business25' etc.)
Agents that submit VAT Returns on behalf of their clients (Available in 'Banded' client licences (from 5 to 100) and a 'AgencyPlus' licence for unlimited clients.
E.G. 'Agency10', 'Agency25', 'AgencyPlus' etc.)
Free Demonstration Software
NJT has developed 'Free' demonstration software, named the 'NJT VAT Return Demo',
that simulates the 'Live' VAT bridging software.
This demonstration software allows you to simulate the full 'End to End' process without being signed up to MTD.
This is a perfectly safe method to familiarise yourself with the functionality of the 'Live' software without actually communicating with HMRC.
Additionally, you may wish to use this software to assist in training or to improve understanding of the required processes under MTD.
[Click here] How to purchase (Businesses with a single VAT account).
[Click here] How to purchase (Businesses with multiple VAT accounts).
[Click here] How to purchase (Agents that submit on behalf of clients).
As a result of the planned 'Self-Assessment' (SA) implementation, NJT is developing a 'Digital Records’ solution in Microsoft Excel. It is expected that this software will be released in Summer 2024.
This software is designed to enable the more straightforward businesses to comply with the MTD legal requirements by providing the facility to record ‘Digital Records’
and prepare Tax Return information in readiness for transfer to the separate NJT Bridging software products for submission to HMRC.
Main Features:
Fully MTD compliant.
Caters for Self-Assessment (SA) – Sole Traders and UK / Foreign property rental businesses.
Caters for Self-Assessment 'Accounting Periods' ending 31st March or 5th April, which is compliant with the new ‘Tax Year Basis’ legislation, effective from the Tax Year 2024-25.
Caters for VAT – Sole Traders and Limited Companies.
Caters for Accrual & Cash Accounting. Also caters for the Basic & Cash method under the Flat Rate scheme.
Caters for VAT related Imports, either ‘Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) or where VAT is paid at the border (PAB).
Provides an optional ‘Bank Feed’ facility to import Bank Statements.
Provides an optional ‘Invoice Ledger’ facility to record separate Invoice, Receipt & Payment Digital Records, allowing subsequent Allocation (Matching Off).
Note: This software is designed to keep Digital Records, it does not generate actual Invoices.
The software can be installed on a local computer of a central server.
Facility to Export SA Quarterly ‘Income & Expense’ summaries for use with NJT Bridging software.
Facility to Export VAT Returns for use with NJT Bridging software.
Retains a full history of Digital Records & Bank Transactions.
Facility to amend, delete and search for Digital Records & Bank Transactions.
Facility to check for new software versions automatically, then download and transfer data.
Facility to backup and restore all data.
Facility to Export Digital Records & Bank Transactions to CSV files.
Software development has commenced to provide a combined solution covering both VAT and Self Assessment (SA) Tax submissions.
This will be named the 'NJT Tax Return Manager' and is being developed in Microsoft Access.
It will be a true 'Multiuser' solution with a separate database, which can be stored locally or on a central server.
For information, Microsoft provide a free 'Runtime' version of Access, which can be installed by customers that do not have at least Office 2016.
However, HMRC is currently redesigning many of the SA interfaces that 3rd party software will use to communicate with the HMRC system.
Also, HMRC's test system is very limited at present, which makes it extremely difficult to comprehensively validate the software.
Please Note: The 'NJT VAT Return Manager' 'Excel' application will continue to be developed and supported.
I.e. businesses/Individuals will be able to choose their preferred solution where only the VAT functionality is required.
In addition, NJT is currently developing an Excel based, bookkeeping solution for the more straight forward businesses, called 'NJT Digital Records'.
This software will prepare both VAT returns and SA quarterly updates, which can be imported into the 'NJT VAT Return Manager' (VAT only) or the new 'NJT Tax Return Manager' software.
It is expected that this bookkeeping software will be released in Summer 2024.
Clarification on the Use of MTD Bridging Software
There appears to be some confusion amongst certain circles regarding both the Acceptability and Lifespan of Bridging Software.
See the sections below for a detailed clarification and the '3 Golden Rules of MTD for VAT'.
Click on the individual Title to view the details.
For the avoidance of doubt, the HMRC VAT Notice 700/22 (see link below) explicitly defines Bridging software
as 'Functional compatible software' and is therefore a perfectly acceptable method of submitting, MTD compliant, VAT Returns to HMRC.
Bridging software is NOT just an interim solution as some people are advocating.
The VAT Notice defines 'Functional compatible software' as a software program, or a set of software programs,
products or applications. Therefore it is perfectly acceptable to use one software program to keep your accounts records (This includes spreadsheets)
and a separate software program (Bridging software) to submit your VAT Return. The only stipulation is that you must transfer the data digitally.
The confusion is actually related to the rules governing the transfer of data between the accounts software and the Bridging software (Digital Links).
Again for the avoidance of doubt, the NJT Bridging software supports the, MTD compliant, digital transfer of data from a
variety of accounts software and formats.
[Click Here]
HMRC VAT Notice 700/22: Making Tax Digital for VAT
Accounts Records:
Your accounts records must be kept digitally for Tax purposes using 'Functional compatible software'.
This includes all transactions that are required to calculate the 9-box totals in your VAT Return.
For information, records kept within Spreadsheets are classified as digital records.
VAT Returns:
Your VAT Return must be submitted using 'Functional compatible software'.
This can achieved using a single integrated software solution or a separate Bridging software solution.
HMRC only requires your VAT Return submission to include the 9-box totals (Not the transactions).
For information, HMRC has no current plans to introduce a mandatory requirement to submit transaction level data (Supplemental information).
Digital Links:
All data must be transferred digitally between 'Functional compatible software'.
Exporting & Importing digital files, for example, (Text, CSV & Excel files) are all acceptable.
Linked cells in spreadsheets are acceptable.
The emailing of Digital files between the different software applications is acceptable.
The use of 'Copy & Paste' is only acceptable where controlled by the software (For example, via buttons).
Manual entry of data is not acceptable, unless for purposes outside the scope of MTD (i.e. manual adjustments). However,
the data must be transferred digitally.