UK businesses mandated to use Making Tax Digital (“MTD”) for VAT from 1 April 2019 were due to submit their first quarterly VAT return under MTD for the quarter ended 30 June 2019. The deadline for this was 7 August 2019.

It is important that businesses sign up for MTD at the right time. Readers are reminded that businesses which must submit VAT returns under the MTD for VAT rules must sign up to the service. This sign-up can be done by the business itself or its agent. If a business is not already signed up, it must wait at least 24 hours after submitting its final non-MTD VAT return before signing up.

If payment of VAT is made by direct debit, businesses should allow five working days after the submission deadline for the final non-MTD for VAT return before signing up. Where payment is made by direct debit the business must sign up at least 7 working days before the first MTD for VAT return is filed.

This means that businesses due to sign up and submit their quarter ended 30 June 2019 return in accordance with MTD for VAT and who pay by direct debit should have signed up by Friday 26 July 2019 at the latest. Businesses were advised not to wait until the last minute to sign up in order to avoid issues with registration and new systems which can happen the first time a business is faced with a change of this type. Businesses must also decide on a suitable software package to use.

Businesses should also ensure that they receive email confirmation from HMRC that they have signed up before they file their first MTD for VAT return; HMRC are advising that this can take up to 72 hours to arrive.

MTD for VAT is now available to all VAT registered traders except those that use the VAT GIANT (Government Information and NHS Trust) service. GIANT users are currently required to submit additional information with their VAT return.

Due to an ongoing review by the government into VAT simplification in the public sector, HMRC is further extending the deferral period for GIANT users beyond the October 2019 date that currently applies. HMRC will be in touch again regarding this.

HMRC has also been in touch regarding notification of change to the agent services account creation process.

It has been a requirement since 2009 for accounting service providers to register for Anti Money Laundering Supervision (AMLS).

Agents are asked to enter their AMLS details when they create an Agent Services Account (ASA), which allows them act for their clients under MTD. To ensure that all agents are able to create an ASA and to sign their clients up in good time to meet their MTD obligation in good time, HMRC has changed the journey to allow the creation of an ASA on the basis of a pending AMLS application. However if the agent’s application is refused agent services access will be withdrawn.

Agents should only sign businesses up using their agent credentials, not those of the businesses. Please note that only those acting as paid agents should create an ASA to file on behalf of clients.

Various publications relevant to MTD have also been updated.

HMRC also have advised that the vast majority of taxpayers that have signed up (or have been signed up by an agent) to MTD are now able to view their VAT Certificate in their Business Tax Account (HMRC online services).

The functionality for agents to access this information is expected to be delivered in August 2019. In the meantime they should call the VAT helpline to request the information. The functionality for a small number of taxpayers with non-standard accounting periods will be delivered later this year; date is to be confirmed.