VAT Online Filing for Agents

What is the problem?

I have never found the VAT Online website to be buggy and it is so quick to enter and file a VAT return that you can scarcely call it tiresome (unless, like me, you use Firefox for which the pages are not formatted properly so you have to switch to IE).

Yes - it is mildly frustrating to have clients listed in random VAT number order without names, but this will surely be fixed in time.  It is not as though you don't know the VAT number and 10 is not a long list.

Why would you want to retain the old returns on the HMRC website?  You will have already retained them, along with all the supporting transactions, in your clients' various book-keeping systems and you can print the return itself from the website.

As to the ability for the client to authorise the VAT return prior to submission, you have three options:

1.  Do what most of us do and spell it out in your engagement letter that when the client gives you his records for the purpose of preparing his VAT return, he is also authorising you to submit the return based on his records, or

2.  When you have worked out the figures, either call or e-mail the client to get his consent, or

3.  If you have lots of time to spare, print the return off the website and then cancel it, send the printed return to the client for him to sign and return to you and then, re-enter the figures on the web-site and submit the return.

I stand to be corrected, but I would be surprised if any software developer has thought it worth his while to write a standalone program to give you the very marginal enhancements you would like to that offered by the VAT Online website.

hmm

The main issue is authorisation. I am really not happy about sending a document that is unauthorised, and dobule keying to me is a waste of time and still leaves room for error. Yes the old returns are all printed out as a PDF in the clients file, but it still handy to see the last return from a basic error trapping point of view.

We have 10 per quarter, ie 30+ clients which I find is tiresome to scroll through the unorderd list to find the right client. Exclients dont seem to disappear either even when they are no longer VAT registered which means the list is even longer than that probably 40 plus.

Generaly I find the site very slow compared to other third party software although do use firefox so will install IE to see if its any better, good tip.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone knew of a third party developer as It would be very simple to write and on-line filing will of course be compulsory soon.

Firefox

If you use Firefox, don't install IE separately.  Just download and install the Firefox Add-on called IE Tab.

Reasonable care

Hi there I just wonder if you have thought about the submission of the VAT return direct from the agent without the client checking it in these days of the new dishonesty / incorrect penalties regime that has commenced this year?

If the client chooses to authorise you to submit the VAT return without his checking it and you get it horribly wrong is he /she liable to get caight with not taking every reasonable care in relation to their return
Just a thought for the advocates of short shortcuttign the approvals method of submission

Can put you in touch with supplier

I can put you in touch with a supplier that does software for filing as you describe.

Make contact with me at alan.wright[put an at sign here]libertyaccounts.com and I can give you the details after quizzing you as to why you wouldn't want to get all your customers on a single platform like LibertyAccounts and enjoy the benefits of a single package for bookkeeping and payroll with built in preparation and online filing of  VAT, PAYE year end, and P11D.

Alan

Director - Liberty Accounts

FireFox and Client names

Hi, we use Firefox [3.5.5], can't say we have any probs using it to do Var rtns on-line. Totally agree re comment about lack of names but last time I looked, a week ago, names are now shown in the same way as SA, CT etc.

re IE Tabs - I'll have a look at that, as we have to use IE [reluctantly] as Firefox doen't work properly on HSBC's site.

Payexcel VAT Return Workbook

You may be interested in our newly launched HMRC recognised VAT Return Workbook.  It is an Excel based online filing alternative to HMRC's web based product.  The version for calendar year 2009 VAT Returns is available to download free of charge from our website .  The 2010 version will be available from February, priced at £15.

David Wagstaffe
www.payexcel.co.uk

VAT Submission Pro

I'm pleased to say that we offer a piece of software that should meet all your needs.

It's called VAT Submission Pro and is a desktop application that allows you to complete and file VAT returns for your clients without the need to log into HMRCs website.

A free evalutation version is available to download from our website http://www.dcsoftwaresolutions.co.uk/

Alternatively if you would like some more information you can email us at info@dcsoftwaresolutions.co.uk