VAT MTD numbers continue going up
Over a Million businesses now use MTD. Here are some detailed figures.
HMRC have just released the statistics for the second stagger (quarter) of Making Tax Digital for VAT.
As August drew to a close over a million VAT businesses had signed up to MTD and submissions for the first time exceeded the number of sign-ups. Currently there are over 1.1 million businesses signed up to the VAT service, with over 1.2 million submissions having been received.
In the period leading up to the stagger 2 filing deadline on 7 September the service performed exceptionally well in handling high volumes of traffic. Almost 170,000 VAT returns were filed in the peak week leading up to the 7 September alone, with many thousands more filed in the weeks before that.
Over 230,000 mandated stagger 2 businesses (74%) have now signed up. HMRC will shortly be writing to the 80,000 businesses in stagger 2 who still need to sign up to remind them of their obligations and the need to take action now.
The number of stagger 1 businesses signing up to the service also continues to increase. Since the 7 August deadline, HMRC's nudge letters have helped encourage a further 5% of businesses to sign up to the service. Over 80% of this mandated population is now signed up and actively using the service.
By 7 October, stagger 3 businesses are due to file their first VAT return through MTD. Currently 60% have signed up to the service. To encourage further sign-ups and in turn submissions by this date, HMRC will be sending nudge emails to those businesses who still need to sign up
Of those who have signed up 94% are managing to get their VAT returns in on time.
HMRC are continuing the policy of using encouragement rather than threats to get people to change systems. They have said "
As August drew to a close over a million VAT businesses had signed up to MTD and submissions for the first time exceeded the number of sign-ups. Currently there are over 1.1 million businesses signed up to the VAT service, with over 1.2 million submissions having been received.
In the period leading up to the stagger 2 filing deadline on 7 September the service performed exceptionally well in handling high volumes of traffic. Almost 170,000 VAT returns were filed in the peak week leading up to the 7 September alone, with many thousands more filed in the weeks before that.
Over 230,000 mandated stagger 2 businesses (74%) have now signed up. HMRC will shortly be writing to the 80,000 businesses in stagger 2 who still need to sign up to remind them of their obligations and the need to take action now. This approach has delivered positive results in encouraging sign-ups from the monthly filers and the stagger 1 cohort.
The number of stagger 1 businesses signing up to the service also continues to increase. Since the 7 August deadline, our nudge letters have helped encourage a further 5% of businesses to sign up to the service. Over 80% of this mandated population is now signed up and actively using the service.
By 7 October, stagger 3 businesses are due to file their first VAT return through MTD. Currently 60% have signed up to the service. To encourage further sign-ups and in turn submissions by this date, we will be sending nudge emails to those businesses who still need to sign up."
HMRC have in fact employed 300 staff for the MTD helpline.
This article is based upon a release from HMRC.
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