Corporation tax online filing - HMRC new system

Corporation tax online filing - HMRC new system

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I wasted hours today attempting to use the Revenue's new online filing software to file a straightforward CT600 return.

All I have to show for it is a long list of unanswered questions, which I have passed to the Online Services Helpdesk.

Has anyone else tried it, and if so, with what result? Is it me, or have others experienced difficulties?

Amongst many other problems, I found it excruciatingly slow in operation, and it seemed to hog all the resources on my PC. 

After struggling on with it nearly all afternoon, I finally couldn't get past the "error message not found" message, so had to give up.

Helpful advice gratefully received!

Replies (55)

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David Ross
By davidross
10th Apr 2011 11:56

I've had another go with an open mind - disappointed again !

I am resistant to using commercial software (why should I be made to pay out?) but of course having gone back to paper for the last 18 months since they "improved" CT filing, I no longer have that option.

First the positives - I AM open-minded

One can enter data straight from a spreadsheet (with my 27" iMac I can have the programs open side by side) and obtain in one place a respectable set of final accounts in a printable pdf - so it is a form of "Accounts Production" software in its own right. There is prompting to fill in the required notes etc. I have always liked the Companies House Abbreviated Accounts system which also downloads a pdf, and doing it all in one place (uploading in two separate filings) seems sensible

But the old frustrations are still there - why haven't they been fixed by now? (and some new ones)

As noted on another thread, one dreads the red error boxes, but I take them in the right spirit because once they are fixed, one has confidence in the filing. With nearly 80 to file I shall either become experienced or very frustrated.

But;

• I have not found where one claims the Small Company rate

• One has to keep entering turnover over and over. There is a 'preparation' section that then populated the CT600 - so why when one gets to the CT600 does one have to fill the same stuff in again?

• The Balancing Charge box cannot be un-ticked;

• One has to gerrymander the acquisition amounts (put the same amount in two boxes) when only claiming part of an acquisition for AIA otherwise the WDA carry forward is wrong

These are just what I found when I spent a couple of hours (yes, a couple of hours) filling in what should be a straightforward online form. And as it's a Sunday I cannot speak to the helpline so am venting my spleen with you, my colleagues.

 

HMRC - must do better (pity because so much else in the online filing is so good. They've had years to get the CT right and have messed up, as far as I can see)

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David Ross
By davidross
11th Apr 2011 13:45

After 27 minutes on hold, the Online Helpdesk told me to ring th

Apparently they're not "tax trained". The helpful guy at the local office says I was the first to praise the software (as an Accounts Preparation tool).

We suspect that the Small Companies Rate was not offered because the profit was zero in this case - I'll have to try another company to confirm this.

I passed on my comment about errors in the Capital Allowances computation and he will pass it up the line

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David Ross
By davidross
11th Apr 2011 14:17

Not so good in the end

So much for the "Accounts Preparation Tool" - the document that comes back has "Draft" printed all over it, and it looks pretty manky.

As for the CT600 the "printout" is just a single page, so the only option is to save the 2 Megabyte file used to create the forms.

I spent all that time on this and I get back RUBBISH !

 

Looks like I will have to consider buying software, because 80 x 2 hours to get this crap may make it economic.

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By ColincIT
25th Oct 2011 16:29

Have spent a fair bit of the past 4 months attempting to file online. Software rejects "Previous Years" figures for no good reason - it never rejects the "current years figures! The latest rejection was on the "Called Up Shares" page; several hours fruitlessly spent on this one! Saved form as usual and shut down PC.

Emailing the online helpdesk is a waste of time, as you'kk get an automated reply stating they are unable to assist with your problem". Phoning yjr tax office that deals with my CT gets either an engaged tone, or most of the time, a recorded message saying " They are very busy; please try later" and the call is cut off. This has been going on since May 2011. Finally got through on 24 Oct 2011 d the HMRC office that handles my CT retuns, and got a friendly imspector who basically said they couldn't help, but sugested I download the software and form and start fromm scratch!  

Called it a day and saved/shut down PC. Opened CT600 nnext day and the problem has gone! Went to next page, and the problem has moved to there, with another "previous year" figure being rejected, although it's correct! Called HMRC offcie again, anonymous chap answered, obviously didn't know much as I could hear him asking someone else, and was told the problem was because I wasn't using balanced accounts! How he could divine this from 5000 miles away (I'm in Hong Kong) is amazing.

I wouldn't mind, but I have been filing CT online since 2008, and I had the same problems every time (an HMRC inspector admitted last year that the software was failing, and I should wait 3 months for the next release) IT"S NEVER WORKED PROPERLY! How much have HMRC paid for this rubbish, and who did they pay it to? HMRC should demend their money back, and the cost of replacing it.

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By Belinda
02nd Feb 2012 00:05

didn't get past the first page

... of CT600 and having read this far I am quite relieved. Is it really possible to do this on paper?

 

 

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