MTD - Can an agent sign a client up?

MTD - Has anyone established whether an agent can sign a client up for MTD? If so, how?

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Has anyone established whether an agent can sign a client up for MTD? If so, how?

I have been very much in  the 'wait and see what happens' camp though I am 100% sure it will happen I'll let the bugs get squashed first before jumping in with my 70+ vat clients.

However, after receiving MTD Update for Agents #2 this morning I thought I would have a look again at my MTD agent account and follow the link to sign my practice up as a 'client'.

First thing is to input vat number and date of registration, which means logging in to existing (old) agent account to find that out. Bare in mind all clients have been linked but due to the amazing HMRC system not only can you not see your list, you can't 'pull' the info across such as date of reg.

Anyway, next screen states:

This client has not signed up to report their VAT returns using software - You cannot ask for authorisation from this client until they have signed up.

Hence my question - please for the love of all that is holy someone tell me there is a way for me to sign them up to MTD when the time comes and that I don't have to get them to do it themselves - which as anyone running a practice like mine will know will be a gargantuan and next to impossible task.

Replies (21)

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By bernard michael
14th Jan 2019 10:13

Snag number 27

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By nodrogbir
14th Jan 2019 11:31

I have given up tbh. I think HMRC want all self employed taxpayers out of the system. I doubt that would help the economy. Fed up with the nonsense.

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By Matrix
14th Jan 2019 14:48

I haven't looked into it either but I will probably send details to clients instructing them how to signup or charge a fee for doing it for them. This gives them an option.

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Replying to Matrix:
ALISK
By atleastisoundknowledgable...
14th Jan 2019 17:55

Matrix wrote:

I haven't looked into it either but I will probably send details to clients instructing them how to signup or charge a fee for doing it for them. This gives them an option.

This is a good idea - probably what we’ll do (in March, assuming it is defo happening). When I’ve got my head around what it’s all about.

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By mfbrown185
22nd Jan 2019 15:47

It's all a bit confusing (hahaha) and a little like NodRogBir's post I have given up for the moment.
I have set up Agent Services Account in eager anticipation - but what next? Articles tell me that "all clients who are in MTD need a Business Tax Account", other articles tell me that they don't need a BTA if their Accountant is filing for them. I think I'm going to leave things a little longer. Sorry I'm no help.

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Replying to mfbrown185:
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By James A-K
19th Feb 2019 16:27

I went round in circles with this too. I called the HMRC VAT helpline and somehow managed to get through to someone in the MTD department. They confirmed that the client has to signup first and then the accountant can add them in the agent services account. He also told me if I get any problems then best way to log it is by clicking on the 'Get help with this page link' I thought I would trial this first before asking our clients to sign up by using our own business as a test. The link is https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sign-up-for-making-tax-digital-for-vat You will need your company no, UTR, VAT no and date of VAT registration. I worked my way right to the end of the process and then get the error "Sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties" I have tried this several times over several days and still get the same error. I logged it with HMRC using the method above but have still not received an answer from over a week ago.

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Replying to mfbrown185:
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By James A-K
19th Feb 2019 16:29

I went round in circles with this too. I called the HMRC VAT helpline and somehow managed to get through to someone in the MTD department. They confirmed that the client has to signup first and then the accountant can add them in the agent services account. He also told me if I get any problems then best way to log it is by clicking on the 'Get help with this page link' I thought I would trial this first before asking our clients to sign up by using our own business as a test. The link is https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sign-up-for-making-tax-digital-for-vat You will need your company no, UTR, VAT no and date of VAT registration. I worked my way right to the end of the process and then get the error "Sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties" I have tried this several times over several days and still get the same error. I logged it with HMRC using the method above but have still not received an answer from over a week ago.

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By e
14th Mar 2019 13:59

I have tried to sign up 2 different companies today. Received the same reply - "There is a problem. This client has not signed up to report their VAT returns through software.
They cannot authorise you for this service until they have signed up."
So, I have filled in "Get help using this service". It is some sort of peace take!

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Replying to e:
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By johnhemming
14th Mar 2019 15:18

This sounds like you are trying to use OAuth for two clients rather than signing them up to MTD.

There are two steps:
a) join MTD
b) get clients authorised

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By e
14th Mar 2019 20:06

Thank you John. I did give up, but I had a look again now that you made your point.
Also, HMRC replied: "As part of the MTD VAT process each of your clients will need to be registered and this can be done by either you or your client on the GOV.UK website. "
The link that HMRC provided on this reply took me directly to the client's sign-up questions. Miracle!
Here is the link, if anyone needs it, as I found it to be a nightmare to find the correct pages.
https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/vat-through-software/sign-up/client/vat-n...

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Replying to e:
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By johnhemming
14th Mar 2019 20:10

It can be quite difficult to work out what is going on. The problem is that there are potentially a number of causes of things not working and they all have a binary effect. The difficulty is that you have to get all of the ducks in a row before it works.

I have had people trying quite hard to get the authorisation done when in fact they have not joined MTD.

As a result of this I am writing some analysis software which should tell people what they need to do.

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Replying to e:
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By Susie2012
30th May 2019 00:52

Hi there,
This happened to me today as I am trying to sign up my client to MTD.
I have set up my ASA and connected my software to HMRC.
I then proceed to the website https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/vat-through-software/sign-up/client/vat-n... and guess what?
I received a message stating I cannot set up the client as I do not have the authorisation from my client.
I then log on to my ASA and submit a request for authorisation for the client...
the message I get was I am unable to get authorisation because my client has not sign up for MTD!!!!
Completely contradicting messages and there is NO ONR at HMRC can help.
Anyone else out there can shed a light on this?

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Replying to Susie2012:
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By Matrix
30th May 2019 01:01

Have you linked your ASA to your existing gateway account?

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Replying to Matrix:
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By Susie2012
30th May 2019 09:29

Not yet, as I don't want to put all my existing clients on MTD until I really have to.
I have 1 new client that is on monthly VAT, 1st monthly VAT return for Apr19.. so I thought I will try to sign her up and see if the signing up and authorisation process works.
If not, how can we sign up new clients ?

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Replying to Susie2012:
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By johnhemming
30th May 2019 10:34

Just linking the ASA to your old gateway (should not) won't get them into MTD. If you don't link the accounts you need to get the clients to authorise you as an agent. There are a sequence of web pages to do this or you can use the agents API.

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Replying to johnhemming:
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By Susie2012
30th May 2019 11:13

Hi John,
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/link-clients-to-your-agent-services-account
Based on this to link new clients for MTD for VAT, all I need is their VAT Reg and the date they register for VAT.
When I process this the message stated i cannot get the authorisation, because my client has not sign up for MTD.
In reality is I have also completed the sign up my client for MTD in the website below... but the message i received was i cannot sign up my client, as they have not given me authorisation to do so...
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sign-up-for-making-tax-digital-for-vat
I am no idea what else i am supposed to do next.

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Replying to Susie2012:
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By johnhemming
30th May 2019 11:23

The complicated think about MTD is that there are lots of different steps that ideally have to be taken in the right order (some can be out of sequence). Additionally at times things go wrong and don't do what they need to do.

Firstly, before you can do anything for a client you have to be acting as an agent for that client. Its an obvious thing legally, but there has to be some online mechanism for that.

If you had the client on your old gateway then when you connect the ASA to your old gateway the client(s all of them) should come across.

This will (should) not sign them up to MTD.

Then you need to sign them up to MTD and then you need to authorise the software (either as Agent or Taxpayer/Client).

Then it should all work.

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Replying to johnhemming:
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By Susie2012
30th May 2019 11:40

Thank you John..
What you said here makes sense.
However, this is a complete new client for me, so she is not in my old gateway...
I followed the HMRC process and I am not getting anywhere with that.
I am very sure I am missing a step there.
In the olden days, we submit the online authorisation request, the online codes will be sent to the client and the client gives us the codes for us to submit.. then we have authorisation...

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Replying to Susie2012:
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By johnhemming
30th May 2019 11:58

If it is a new client then you need to be electronically appointed.

Is this a client who already has their own gateway account:

a) Yes - then there are two online routes. One uses a GUI to appoint an agent the other uses the agents API.

b) No - then there is a way of getting them into the system which has been talked about on AW.

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Replying to johnhemming:
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By Susie2012
30th May 2019 12:02

Hi John,
The client does not have their own gateway account.
Can you show me the talk on AW , so that I can get my client into the system.
Thank you again for your help

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Replying to Susie2012:
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By Matrix
30th May 2019 13:41

Just apply for agent authorisation in the usual way.

Link your agent account and register your other MTD accounts which need registering, by the time the code comes through you will know what you are doing.

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