Apologies if this has been raised elsewhere but… I’ve tried to submit my first MTD VAT return and received the following:
“Vat return submission failed. Object reference not set to an instance of an object”.
My VAT period is set correctly to start 1 Jan 2019, but I notice that purchases before this date are still being pulled through (which I understand should not happen based on the ’ transactions entered into QuickFile before the VAT period will automatically be pulled into this return unless you specify a start date in the VAT settings’ message). Might this be the cause and, if so, what can I do about it? Might I need to set up some VAT starting balances somewhere? Or do I need to look elsewhere.
Many thanks for any suggestions.
Alastair Jenkin
Hi @JemcastAJ,
If your VAT period is set to start 1 Jan 2019 am I correct in thinking that it will end 31 Mar 2019? If this is the case you won’t be able to upload the return until the period has ended, so from 1 Apr onwards.
In relation to pulling through transactions which take place before this date - This will happen, if there are transactions which haven’t been included on a previous VAT return it will include them with the next one.
Hope this helps 
Hi @QFBeth
I did wonder whether trying to file early might be the cause. I’ll be patient and try again in April. Regarding those pre-period purchases, I entered them in order to set up the QF foundation data for the trading year that started 1 August 2018. But these will have been taken into account in my last, direct entry to HMRC VAT return, for the period ending 31 Dec 2018. Should I be setting up a VAT balance somewhere, or making a correction to avoid duplicating the previous submission?
Thank you.
Alastair
Hi,
In this instance it may work to change the start date for VAT in Reports>VAT Returns>VAT Settings
This will make sure that any transactions dated before the start date aren’t included - so just be wary if you were to enter a ‘missing’ invoice etc dated before then it won’t be automatically picked up.
Are you suggesting change the date (and then perhaps change it back) to act as a trigger?
I would set it now to coincide with the start date of this VAT Return and then should you need to pick something up in future do a manual adjustment for it then rather than playing around with the date too much.
If I change the date to 2 Jan 19 (my first entry is 3rd Jan) then I’m not pulling earlier entries through. If I go back to 1 Jan 19, then everything from 1 Aug 18 also gets pulled through, even though my latest entry before that date was 14 Dec 18. Possible Glitch? I guess the 2 Jan date generates the right data so I could use that, but could there be any other possibilities? Thanks. Alastair
Hi @JemcastAJ
Are you on cash or accrual accounting for VAT?
I’m using cash accounting. And am pretty much a novice with the whole thing.
As you’re on cash accounting, it sounds as if you have invoices dates pre-1st January 2019, but paid 1st January 2019. As a result, these are being included.
If these payments are correct, then it’s likely they will need to be counted on your VAT return.
OK - thanks for that thought. I can’t imagine having spent New Years day entering all the data, but I’ll go back and check; and I’ve time to make / calculate any appropriate corrections. Thank you. Alastair
No problem! The date would be the bank transaction date rather than the date you entered it, so it could be a typo.
But any problems or queries, please let us know
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