Reports -> HMRC will list the accounts you have connected now, if there are none connected then you can click the connect button again.
If you have several different government gateway accounts (e.g. one for limited company taxes and another for your personal self assessment) then I recommend going to tax.service.gov.uk/business-account and actively log out there before you start the connect process in QuickFile, to make sure it sends you to the login screen and you can be certain you’re connecting the correct gateway account for your VAT.
when you say start the connect process in quickfile am i statring from scratch, as im not used to all this, wouldnt have been a problem only from reading after 18 months i need to reapply.
ok beth, this is where im having problems, i follow the screen what to do,
i have been sent anaccess code. i now log into my vat hmrc account. it asks for vat number and password, it takes me directly to my vat account at hmrc, it does not ask for an access code.
so i now go to quickfile set up my vat return, press to send copy to hmrc and i get an error code 401, im back to where i started yesterday, im going round and round in circles.
Check that your vat settings haven’t changed. You need to make sure that you have enabled online filing and ticked the mtd box. Once you have done this, then link your HMRC account?
ok will check, im going to check them leave the return till later, if im still having problems ill get back to you, what time is there someone i can chat to. thanks
The Support team actively keep an eye on the forums during office hours so Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.
If you are still having problems later feel free to send a private message to @QFSupport with your QuickFile account number so that we help you resolve it
If you mean they’ve sent you a code by post, that’s usually only for when you’re first setting up VAT and haven’t yet attached your VAT number to your Government Gateway account at all. If you’re already able to see your previous VAT returns under the “Making Tax Digital for VAT” section of your HMRC online account then you’re already set up on the HMRC side and you just need to do the connection and configuration on the QuickFile side.
Under Reports → HMRC you may already have your tax account connected, if not then use the “connect” button, select the “organisation” option (not “individual”), and it should redirect you to the Government Gateway to log in, then back to QuickFile to say the account is connected.
Then under Reports → VAT Returns, press the “settings” button, then make sure that the two checkboxes for “enable online filing” and “use MTD features” are both ticked (the “use MTD” box only appears once the “enable online” box has been ticked"), and in the drop-down box for HMRC account select the account you just connected. Once you save these settings you should be able to go back to Reports → VAT Returns → Create and if it shows you a list of periods then you’re good to go.
You don’t need to re-apply to HMRC to be allowed to continue using MTD, the thing that expires after 18 months is the access token that grants QuickFile permission to interact with HMRC on your behalf. Disconnecting and re-connecting from the QuickFile side issues a new access token that will be valid for the next 18 months.