Anybody else had this problem?

Anybody else had this problem?

Didn't find your answer?

Hi

Been successfully using HMRC's free online CT600 filing software without any problems ...in fact, I think it's very good. BUT...

Today I tried to fill in the various online CT600 pages for a company limited by guarantee ... i.e. no shares ... and whereas in the past I managed to submit the CT600 showing zero share capital without any problems whatsoever, this time round HMRC's software won't allow this. GRRRRRRR!

Has anybody else had this problem? And, apart from buying in software to submit just one company return, does anybody know of a reasonable workaround? Help would be much appreciated. I'm only a small business with about 30 CT600s a year (in addition to all the partnerships and sole traders), and have found HMRC's free offering to be perfect ... up till now. I'm slowly gearing myself up to phoning HMRC about this, but, based on past history, I need to get several bottles of very good single malt in first if I am to survive the experience, hence my request here before I get totally sozzled. Thanks.

Replies (22)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By Chris Smail
05th Nov 2013 15:35

Just attach the accounts as a pdf

.

Thanks (0)
Replying to leshoward:
avatar
By KH
05th Nov 2013 15:45

Is it really that simple?

HI Chris

Thanks for your input, but the problem is I can't navigate past the page for capital and reserves ... without inputting a positive figure for share capital, I am stopped from going any further, so can't just append PDFs for the accounts. Wish I could .... starting on the first bottle of malt already.

Thanks (0)
By jdm5454
05th Nov 2013 16:26

Go back to the beginning and choose not to use the accounts service. Then you just fill in the CT600 and attach the accounts. Not sure if it still excepts Pdf may have to be xlbrll or whatever they call it.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By mhtax
05th Nov 2013 19:33

definitely has a work around

I hit this problem a couple of months ago. Will look to see what I did when in office in the morning but it definitely can be done

Thanks (0)
avatar
By KH
06th Nov 2013 15:52

Thanks for comments so far

Hi ... I'll try starting from the beginning, as jdm5454 suggested, and choose not to use the accounts service ... but I tend to think I'm going to have to attach accounts in iXBRL format, i.e. use a bureau for the conversion, which is a bit of a price to pay for a "non-profit-making" organisation.

If mhtax can come up with a cheap workaround, this would be fantastic. Can't understand why HMRC has changed its CT600 software to that it no longer accepts zero share capital.

HMRC has promised to phone me back about this problem, but that looks like being several bottles of single malt away (based on previous experience of their agent help lines). Still, I don't want to sound too pessimistic, not yet .... .................

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Minnie136
06th Nov 2013 21:33

So you have not been able to agree with HMRC that no CT600 is due in the first place?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By DMGbus
07th Nov 2013 00:08

This will work...but!

Give HMRC what what they want - a figure for share capital - say £1.

Double entry = increase creditors.

But this is "naughty"! (oops the "false accounting police" might be watching!) so...

Then write to HMRC stating that there's a correction to make: reduce both share capital and creditors by £1!

No effect on liability.   No-one loses out apart from commercial software suppliers or a firm of accountants who'd otherwise have to be used for the fiing.  Is this really too "naughty" a suggestion ?

 

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By KH
07th Nov 2013 12:23

Fixed ... "with a little help from my friends"

Firstly thanks to all who tried to help me out ... I did indeed originally think of inputting £1 share capital, but decided against it on the grounds that £1 might not be material, but the difference between any share capital and zero share capital was huge. In the end HMRC came to the rescue, and bloody brilliant they were, too. I did what jdm5454 advised, went back to the beginning, and opted not to use the accounts service, but just attached PDFs of the accounts along with the computations ... knowing full well that under normal circumstances these would simply be returned since they weren't iXBRL'd. In the meantime I filed the abbreviated accounts using Companies House software, with no problems (unlike HMRC's offering, CoHs software doesn't baulk at zero share capital).

I then phoned HMRC to tell them of the problem with their online software not accepting zero share capital. And today, only 24 hours later, they phoned back to say it was known glitch in the latest upgrade to their software and that, exceptionally, they would accept the PDFs submitted, and hoped that next time I came to submit accounts for companies limited by guarantee that I would find this problem solved. Very nice HMRC guy on the phone, too, apologising all over the place ... so full marks to them for a prompt and extremely courteous response. And full marks to all you guys for input, help, and naughty but nice suggestions.

Thanks (4)
avatar
By toyen149
07th Nov 2013 16:22

Any Malt left how about sharing we no so luck punters

Thanks (0)
avatar
By KH
07th Nov 2013 16:31

Any malt left?... you must be joking

You must be joking ... the mere hint of a phone call to HMRC and I'm scrabbling round like a jaded alcoholic for the nearest triplet of malts I can lay my hands on ... and they all disappear whilst waiting in the inevitable phone queue .. mind you, I had to swallow the stuff very VERY fast this time round since the phone queue was almost non-existant.

Seriously impressed with HMRC (and not for once, either .... have found them very helpful this year, even if a bit slow in issuing residency certificates for VAT-registered company clients starting to export to the EU).

So sincerest apologies for lack of malt swilling over the ether to all you helpful people.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By abelljms
12th Nov 2013 14:29

y not cave in ?

 

use taxcalc software and have done with it.

then you get their unbelievably helpful support team, and you will save :-

all that streeeess calling HMRCyall that boozeyour liver

etc......

 

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By mattygcda
05th Mar 2014 14:36

Interesting article.  Here we

Interesting article.  Here we are in March and the same problem continues.  I can't get past this box either without entering a positive figure (for a company limited by guarantee).  Wake up HMRC.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By richardmasters
31st Mar 2014 10:52

get the malt out again

I have the same issue and the software still hasn't been updated.

If everyone keeps sending in pdf's then maybe they will get a move on.....

Thanks (0)
avatar
By ken adams
05th May 2014 17:25

Still Not Fixed.


 Still Not Fixed.05/05/2014

I have been struggling with this issue for hours, Bank Holiday so thought would get our accounts done for HMRC, then came to the share capital box( we are a company limited by guarantee)

So it falls to me each year to do the accounts, I have been up and down the figures all afternoon trying to find where I could have made an error, Did the accounts last year No problem.

Then found this very helpful site, Thanks Guys, I am relieved to know it is not my figures that are up the left. One would think that  HMRC would put a warning /note somewhere to explain the glitch and advice on a workaround instead of having us who are prepared to pay our Taxes spend hours trying to reconcile figures that are in fact correct, GRRRRR

 

Ken.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By fay
29th May 2014 21:31

problem still not fixed

and luckily bottle to hand.

Having spent the whole day thinking it was MY fault it was a relief to find this website.

As a volunteer who gets to do this delightful job once a year for a very small community company, I am left thinking wondering how many small organisations may have been killed off by these problem because there just aren't the resources to pay for accountancy fees or software.

Have vented frustration on MP and Private Eye!

Thanks (1)
avatar
By RJay
28th Jul 2014 22:17

still the same problem - what do I do?

I am very pleased to have found this website. I followed the advice to 'not file the accounts'.

Does it mean that when I get to the 'Final review' page, I attach the 'output' PDF file that is available for print/view a few steps earlier? And then I proceed with the declaration etc. and submit? Is this all I need to do?

I have already filed with the Companies House and all seemed to be ok. I run a very small company limited by guarantee. Can't really afford professional service to deal with the filing.

Thanks!

RJay

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Catherine_S
03rd Jan 2015 18:54

Mighty relieved to have found this!

Many thanks for this thread. Seems like the problem with the CT600 accepting zero share capital is still there. Good of you to share your experiences and solutions. It really shouldn't be this hard...

Thanks (0)
avatar
By michaelr
12th Mar 2015 11:33

Recent HMRC advice on this issue

I have the same issue working for a company limited by garantee which is a not for profit social firm.

I called the Corportation Tax helpline today 12th March 2015 and was advised to enter a figure of £1 for called up share capital and then deduct £1 from the balance sheet.

I'm really grateful to have found this thread other wise I'd still be stressed about this glitch.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By pinewoodsteve
26th Mar 2015 14:03

Yes got the same problem, and am waiting on HMRC calling me back, the adviser was quite bemused by it all. At least I have got the option of submitting the PDF accounts or doing the change of share capital, if they can't come up with a solution.

 

 

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By HLolljee
26th Aug 2015 21:01

Same problem but troubled with the solution given.

Hi there, 

 

So glad I am not alone!  I echo everything said before as having same experience for all the same reasons!  I submitted the form and attached PDF and they wrote to me saying it was not acceptable and removed the return from their records :-( I was advised to submit with the accounts service but am struggling with the AC70 error.  I have spoken with 3 different people at HMRC and have not got it right yet!

Could i ask for one of you kind people who have managed to use the £1 work around successfully to explain which boxes you added and subtracted the £1 with the box names AC5?

We have made a loss this year and so have  (minus) figure in my profit and loss.  

Any help would be greatly received. 

 

Kindest regards

 

H

Thanks (0)
avatar
By bakerybosslady
22nd Jan 2016 11:15

called up share capital

ive been trying for 2 weeks to file my returns, accounts are all in order but cannot get past this box  everyone ive spoken to and i have spoken with many, sent snaps of my efforts, tried sending a joint first, that didnt work, tried companies house, they know nothing, should have sent in a real joint might flush some free thinkers out

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Amanda Pritchett
19th Feb 2016 20:25

Solution of sorts

As a first time amateur preparing the accounts and tax return for a very small company limited by guarantee, I am encountering the same problem with Box AC20 refusing to accept a Zero for paid up share capital.  Today I managed to elicit some guidance from the Corporation Tax helpline at HMRC.  

On 13 January 2016 they issued online guidance under the heading "Corporation Tax: service availability and issues". Within these five pages there is a subheading "HMRC CT Online filing software - called up share capital"   It reads as follows:

"Companies limited by guarantee (who do not have share capital) can still use HMRC's software to submit your Company Tax return and accounts.  You should enter the amount that the company's members have agreed to contribute in the event of the company being wound up at AC70 as called up share capital (and in boxes AC280/AC281 for the current period and AC273/AC274 for previous period). You should also enter a suitable explanatory note in the Accounts notes - Called up share capital - additional information box.  If after considering the above, you continue to experience a problem, please contact the Online Service helpdesk."

Unfortunately this seemingly illogical guidance doesn't explain how to deal with the knock-on effect on totals elsewhere in the accounts - both this year's and last. If anyone reading this has the clarity of mind to think this through and advise, I for one would be very grateful.  

Thanks (0)