Linking existing clients to ASA account

How do we link our existing clients to our new ASA?

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We have set up our Agent Services Authorisation account and think that it is linked to our Online Agent account - but when we log in to our ASA there are no services enrolled. How do we know if the accounts are linked or not and how do we link our existing clients to the new account? We are going around in circles with this and ringing HMRC has been useless, either the number they give in the website is 'unavailable, please check and try again' or we get a message to say that the number we should ring is the unavailable one! Webchat has also failed to be of help. When we did make contact with HMRC some months ago the HMRC contact didn't really know what MTD was. 

Replies (9)

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By Duggimon
05th Apr 2019 11:01

If you try to link your old account to the new one and it says it's already linked, then it's linked.

It won't show any services on it until you've enrolled for services. Currently there's only MTD and trust registrations on it, you still use the old one for everything else, it's not designed to replace it.

You won't see a client list on the new account, instead that information will be accessed through your MTD software.

I have no idea why HMRC haven't told their staff any of this since it seems everyone who sets up an ASA has the same questions.

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Replying to Duggimon:
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By Judith Clark
05th Apr 2019 11:19

When we go to enrol for services it comes up with everything except MTD and that is not an option to enrol. We seem to be hitting a brick wall having got part way through the process. Unfortunately assistance or advice from HMRC is non existent.

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Replying to Judith Clark:
By Duggimon
05th Apr 2019 11:25

Sorry but I'm not even sure what page you're on, I don't have a link to enrol for any services.

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Replying to Duggimon:
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By Judith Clark
05th Apr 2019 11:34

We're looking at the 'Services you can add' page, and MTD is not in the list.
Thanks for your message!

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Replying to Duggimon:
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By 0098087
05th Apr 2019 11:59

why oh why oh why was this necessary

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Caroline
By accountantccole
05th Apr 2019 14:28

We were told last week that they link it behind the scenes but haven't written the webpage yet that will show those clients! Handy

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By Ben Alligin
12th Jun 2019 16:26

I've just found out how to do this. I had exactly the same problem as Judith.

NB You cannot do this via your existing Government Gateway ID login, you have to do it via this route. HMRC MTD helpline cannot explain why
but the chap I just spoke to knows that this is the only way around it.

The solution is as follows:
1. Close down your internet browser and restart.
2. Go to Gov.uk homepage
3. In the Search box type in Agent Service Account
4. Select second option on the search results of 'Sign in to your agent services account'
5. Sign in now using your new ASA Government Gateway ID
6. Select the 3rd option in Client Authorisations i.e Link your current Self Assessment and VAT clients....
7. Select Start Now
8. Sign in using your old government gateway user ID

If you have already linked your ASA to your client list you will get an error message stating that this User ID is already linked to your ASA.

Job done!! Best of luck and a stiff drink if you manage it.

Apologies if this is a bit late, but I hope it helps someone else trying to check this issue.

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Replying to Ben Alligin:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
09th Jul 2019 12:13

Thank you so much. I was going round in circles, this has helped me a lot.
I've worked my way through the steps above. The screen indicates that I am about to copy across both self assessment and VAT clients. What happens when the SA clients are copied across along with the VAT clients, do I lose the access to those SA clients on my old HMRC online a/c?

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