HMRC Moving Non-MTD Clients To ASA

HMRC Moving Non-MTD Clients To ASA without notification

Didn't find your answer?

On Friday, I logged in to upload a non-MTD VAT clients VAT return via my old agents account and when I clicked 'submit a return' it just threw me out of the system - logging me off.  I tried three times, and then had the presence of mind to check my ASA account.  Low and behold the clients VAT record was there and I could submit the return this way, manually inputting the figures as before.  It was only after I phoned HMRC this morning, did I find out that the client was migrated by them without being asked and are still set up as a non-MTD client now attached to my ASA account.

Surely HMRC should notify the Agent that they have migrated the client?  As at first I felt a little stressed at the possibility that something had gone wrong at their end and if it needed fixing, meant the return would then be late under the agents account.  When HMRCs operator presses to 'migrate' a client, it should be part of their processes, in my opinion, to email the agent to let them know this has happened.

I will know in future for any more, but am disappointed at HMRCs shambolic lack of communication with the people who actually process the returns using their systems. 

 

Replies (4)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

By Duggimon
09th Aug 2021 11:31

It was mentioned on an agent update sent out a couple of months ago. I think you need to be specifically signed up to receive them though, and I do agree that communication of the issue has been god awful, as usual.

Thanks (1)
Replying to Duggimon:
avatar
By Hugo Fair
09th Aug 2021 13:39

Totally agree.
HMRC's initial "excuse" was that it wasn't a planned action (just a mistake that happened to suit their purposes) ... and then they changed the story to saying that it would be done in several 'random tranches' over the next few months (which apparently made it too much like hard work to identify whom they had to notify)!

Thanks (2)
Replying to Hugo Fair:
Avatar
By I'msorryIhaven'taclue
09th Aug 2021 17:03

I had the same thing as the OP a month ago.

One can still access the submitted returns via the old agent-account. But click file a return and a message to the effect that one is not authorised to access that function appears; while the software kicks one out of the account altogether.

So the client's VAT account in effect straddles the old agent-account and the new ASA. Just HMRC's IT crowd demonstrating their sense of humour.

Thanks (1)
Replying to I'msorryIhaven'taclue:
avatar
By Hugo Fair
09th Aug 2021 18:28

Aaaah ... the IT Crowd - now there's a role model for HMRC technicians to aspire to (although it might be too steep a learning curve for many of them)!

Thanks (1)