Is the portal still up for you?

All systems go for the June VAT quarter!

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I've just checked 5 clients on the VAT portal, sales from £100k to £300k per year.  All of them have a VAT return up there covering the period 1 April 19 to 30 June 19, so presumably HMRC are happy for them all to use this to submit that quarter's return.  Perhaps the proof of the pudding will be in the eating in July, but for me Plan A is to just carry on with the portal.

Replies (15)

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By GHarr497688
21st May 2019 11:21

That’s because they havnt signed up and to protect vat revenue I guess . Legally you have to do something if your mandated . I’m claiming individual exemption on each client to see what happens . All my clients are older or have tried and failed with a computer . In the meantime you can file through the old portal . Hmrc seem to be having a rough time with the ASA and AML registration process to do with MTD . Not one of my clients has signed up for reasons outside their control . I signed up and I think my records are now difficult to understand and impossible to check compared to the old system in place . I dread to think what’s going to happen in August looking at all the Aweb posts. Hmrc have fallen down badly as it appears a law is in place that people are not ready for and that demoralises the taxpayer . I think Hmrc could still do something but I doubt they will as they seem to love bad publicity . Digitalisation is great if used properly and the user understands the system but this is not the case with MTD.

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Replying to GHarr497688:
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By legerman
21st May 2019 11:40

GHarr497688 wrote:

I’m claiming individual exemption on each client to see what happens . All my clients are older or have tried and failed with a computer

I went to a seminar at Accountex 2019 and Theresa Middleton said that those who request to be exempt remain on the old system until a decision is made. Should that decision be negative you can appeal and whilst the appeal is in progress you can still remain on the old portal.

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Replying to GHarr497688:
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By jwgrogan
22nd May 2019 16:14

GHarr497688 wrote:

I signed up and I think my records are now difficult to understand and impossible to check compared to the old system in place .

You're a professional accountant, but you can't keep your own records in a methodical way on a spreadsheet?

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Replying to jwgrogan:
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By GHarr497688
22nd May 2019 17:30

No it’s on Sage 50 and I have to say a combination of manual / computer was easier for me than the full use of Sage 50 . I am entitled to my opinion Sir !

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By legerman
21st May 2019 11:55

Clients remain on the old portal until they switch to the new one, that's always been the case and remains so. It is the client's (or yours) responsibility to switch to the new portal and should be done before the first VAT submission is due for the the first quarter that start on or after 1st April. For April - June quarter HMRC suggest 15-23rd May but can be done any time after that as long as you are able to submit by 7th August.

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Replying to legerman:
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By GHarr497688
21st May 2019 12:59

Is it not the case that Hmrc seem to suggest that they realise taxpayers are not ready and so are expecting some mandated taxpayers not to be signed up . Interesting that some Accountants are not AML registered since 2009 , if that’s the case we have plenty of time as that was a law also !!!

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Replying to GHarr497688:
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By legerman
21st May 2019 13:58

GHarr497688 wrote:

Is it not the case that Hmrc seem to suggest that they realise taxpayers are not ready and so are expecting some mandated taxpayers not to be signed up . Interesting that some Accountants are not AML registered since 2009 , if that’s the case we have plenty of time as that was a law also !!!

I don't think that's true at all Gordon. The system is designed that once you move off the old portal the client is then removed, nothing to do with them expecting that some wouldn't move. It's still against tax law not to switch but there is a light handed approach regarding penalties, that's all.

AML can't be compared, it's a criminal offence and anyone not registered is looking at a possible prison sentence.

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Replying to legerman:
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By GHarr497688
21st May 2019 14:32

Thanks for the reply , it all helps . If it’s a criminal offence on AML why are Hmrc overlooking all those that have failed to register previously ?

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Replying to GHarr497688:
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By legerman
21st May 2019 22:10

GHarr497688 wrote:

Thanks for the reply , it all helps . If it’s a criminal offence on AML why are Hmrc overlooking all those that have failed to register previously ?

Do you have reason to think they are overlooked? I suspect that once it comes to light that someone isn't registered for AML then they will be investigated and either fined or prosecuted.

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Replying to legerman:
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By GHarr497688
22nd May 2019 09:49

If you look at Hmrc webinar it was stated that many Accountants could not open an ASA as they were not AML registered and as these takes 45 days minimum AML needed urgent application . So I assume all these people are criminals . Please correct me if I am wrong .

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Replying to GHarr497688:
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By legerman
22nd May 2019 13:37

GHarr497688 wrote:

If you look at Hmrc webinar it was stated that many Accountants could not open an ASA as they were not AML registered and as these takes 45 days minimum AML needed urgent application . So I assume all these people are criminals . Please correct me if I am wrong .

I questioned whether they have been overlooked, not whether they are criminals. MTD has highlighted that there are accountants/bookkeepers who don't have AML. Now that HMRC are aware it is likely they will be fined and/or prosecuted.

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Replying to legerman:
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By GHarr497688
22nd May 2019 17:32

I can see no evidence this is the case so I assume not .

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Replying to GHarr497688:
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By johnhemming
21st May 2019 18:32

Unless HMRC say it is optional it remains mandatory. They may not fine people the first time, but they are expecting people to say that they are trying to shift to MTD.

I would also expect them to ask if people are keeping digital records or not. Whether there will be any penalties in 2019 is a separate question I would not wish to try to answer.

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
21st May 2019 13:08

@MM, sounds like my plan will work then.

Which seems to be the same as your plan.

Digitally file and pay the right amount of tax until further notice.

Quite frankly I think HMRC would be happy with that given if we did all switch over in early July, the system would implode.

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Chris M
By mr. mischief
22nd May 2019 09:05

What can possibly go wrong with this? I can't see any way at all that this could confuse taxpayers who do their own VAT returns.

Still, at least this is now a fallback Plan B if all the stupid - and predicted - problems of submitting via MTD turn out to affect my submissions from July onwards. I will record the issues, not waste any time on them and just jump on to the portal and file there.

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