I’ve just filed my VAT return for the 01/23 quarter but the report shows the filing has used all my transactions going back to when I first set up Quickfile MTD last May! How do I correct this with HMRC and how do I set up the VAT calculation to only use the transactions in the appropriate date range?
It will be correct going forward.
The way QuickFile works when you prepare a return it will include all items dated on or before the end of the period you are filing that have not already been locked by a previous return that you saved in QuickFile. This is deliberate as it means that if you come across late entries that were missed out of a return (maybe a supplier invoiced you late but back dated their invoice) you can enter those in QuickFile at their correct accounting dates and they will automatically be included in the next available return.
There’s a configuration option “vat start date” which acts as a hard stop on how far back QuickFile will look for unreconciled entries - you would need to set that before submitting your first return.
But by the sound of it you have already submitted the latest return to HMRC including all the prior items - if you have only just become VAT registered it shouldn’t be too bad as those prior items won’t have had VAT recorded on them, so it’s just boxes 6-9 that will be inflated, and you have still paid the right amount of VAT in boxes 1-5. But if any of those prior items do have VAT itemised then it will be more awkward. I suggest you talk to your accountant before you go any further.
thanks Ian.
I set a VAT start date when I first set up QuickFile in May last year, this is the third quarter that I’ve submitted. Checking back, it looks like Quickfile is literally taking everything that I’ve entered since them and using that to calculate my return each time.
I read in a previous thread on a similar topic that you need to ‘save’ the quarter wehn it’s filed to stop QF reusing the data but I can’t see how to do that.
I’ve contacted my accountant who says it will be possible to reconcile with HMRC but a lot of faffing. So frustrating as I’ve been VAT registered for 25 years and never had a problem!
As @ian_roberts mentioned, we will take all transactions from the VAT start date up until the VAT period end, so anything entered into your account late is still counted.
If you have submitted your return, depending on the value, you may need to speak with HMRC. Otherwise, you can correct it in your next VAT period.
Were the previous returns submitted through QuickFile, or was the data just recorded in QuickFile and submitted externally?
hi Matthew,
My accountant advised me to set up an MTD portal with an accounting app as HMRC were moving all VAT returns to digital last year. I chose QuickFile as the interface seemd very usable (I’m a technoprat!) and, as a self employed technician, I didn’t want a huge monthly subscription for the small value of transactions I make annually.
This is the third quarter I have submitted my VAT return through QuickFile and I’ve only just realised it’s accruing all my entries each time! I thought that by setting the VAT filing periods, the app would automatically filter transactions within those dates. All I need to know is how to restrict the calculation to the current quarter withut manually resetting the ‘VAT start date’ each time.
My accountant will help me sort out HMRC but it would be great to keep using QuickFile going forward as everything else seems to work.
cheers, Fleur
As I said above it should do this already as entries that have been locked by a previously submitted return should not be pulled into the next one. The only time this would break is if you’ve switched the setting from cash to accrual accounting or vice versa, or if you’ve “rolled back” a VAT return after having submitted it.
Bingo. I changed from ‘accrual’ to ‘cash’ for this quarter. It’s how I always used to file my returns and hadn’t realised the default was ‘accrual’ for the first two filed through QF.
Presumably, now that I’ve specified ‘cash’, the next quarter should only accept inputs from the beginning of the quarter period.
Now that the issue has been identified, my accountant can advise me how to reconcile with HMRC. At least I’ve overpaid and will get some respite next quarter!
thanks for your assistance in this matter
kind regards, Fleur
Yeah, accrual accounting returns lock the invoices and purchases but not the payments, cash accounting returns lock the payments but not the invoices. So when you change from one to the other you have to adjust things accordingly.
Got it! Every day is a school day…
thanks again for prompt assistance
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