VAT registered businesses and organisations are required to:

• Maintain their accounting records digitally in a software product or spreadsheet.
• Submit their VAT returns to HMRC using a functional compatible software product that can access HMRC’s API (Application Program Interface) platform.

These requirements have applied to all VAT registered traders since April 2022.

Businesses within scope need to acquire a suitable commercial software product or appoint an agent to submit returns to HMRC on their behalf.

HMRC’s online VAT return is available only to businesses that are not within the scope of MTD VAT (businesses that have claimed a digital exclusion exemption).

No changes have been made to:

• VAT rules other than those relating to record keeping and filing.
• The amount of information submitted to HMRC; the VAT return contains the same nine boxes as before although the regulations do allow for additional information to be submitted on a voluntary basis.
• The current filing and payment deadlines for VAT.

MTD VAT requirements apply to all VAT registered traders.

With very few exceptions, HMRC has signed up all VAT-registered businesses to MTD VAT. Those with a digital filing or MTD exemption (see Exemptions), or that have applied for exemption, should not have been signed up.

Businesses are no longer able to file their VAT returns through their online services account unless they are exempt.

Failure to use MTD VAT will mean VAT returns are unable to be filed. Where payment of VAT returns is made by direct debit, this will not be collected if the return is not filed.

Businesses filing or paying late will be subject to penalties and interest.

MTD VAT services are available to all VAT registered traders except those that use the VAT GIANT (Government Information and NHS Trust) service. GIANT users are currently required to submit additional information with their VAT return. Due to an ongoing review by the government into VAT simplification in the public sector, HMRC has further extended the deferral period for GIANT users; no start date has been set.

Businesses do not have to comply with MTD if:

• it’s not practicable for them to use digital tools to keep business records or submit VAT returns because of age, disability, or remoteness of location
• the business is subject to an insolvency procedure
• the business is run entirely by practising members of a religious society or order whose beliefs are incompatible with using electronic communications or keeping electronic records

These exemptions mirror the previous exemptions from online filing for VAT.

The relevant HMRC guidance is included in Section 2 of the MTD VAT notice.

Businesses that register for VAT through the VAT Registration Service will be automatically signed up for MTD VAT. Those that require an exemption from MTD VAT must separately apply for this.

Applications for exemption can be made by phoning the VAT helpline on 0300 200 3700 or in writing to BT VAT, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1WR.

HMRC will notify taxpayers in writing of its decision and where the application is refused will include information on the right to appeal.

HMRC has confirmed that while a business is waiting for HMRC to respond to a request for exemption or for an appeal to be heard, the business can continue to file VAT returns as it does currently.

HMRC has declined to specify a particular age for exemption; each case will be considered on its own merits.

Exemption on the grounds of disability applies where an individual cannot use a computer, tablet or smartphone with the frequency or for the amount of time it takes to keep digital records for the business.

Exemption on the grounds of location applies if a taxpayer cannot get internet access at their home or business premises and it is not reasonable to get internet access at another location. It does not apply to those who could obtain internet access but have chosen not to do so. HMRC accepts that it is not appropriate to use public computers (such as in a library) to comply with MTD.

HMRC will not agree an exemption purely on the grounds that time, effort and cost is involved in complying with MTD, so long as the time, effort and cost is reasonable. Difficult cases will arise, particularly where an individual has some basic digital skills such as being able to send emails but would not be able to cope with accounting software or a spreadsheet.

An individual or business may choose to rely on an agent or third party for help with meeting their MTD obligations, but they are not obliged to do so. HMRC should not refuse an application for a digital exclusion exemption solely on the grounds that a digitally excluded individual or business could or should rely on an agent or other third party.

The insolvency exemption covers the following situations:

• when a bankruptcy order or winding-up order or award of sequestration is made, or an administrator is appointed in relation to that person;
• when that person is put into administrative receivership;
• when that person, being a corporation, passes a resolution for voluntary winding up;
• when any voluntary arrangement approved in accordance with Part I or VIII of the Insolvency Act 1986, or Part II or Chapter II of Part VIII of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, comes into force in relation to that person;
• when a deed of arrangement registered in accordance with . . . Chapter I of Part VIII of that Order of 1989 takes effect in relation to that person; or
• when that person's estate becomes vested in any other person as that person's trustee under a trust deed.

The current paper-based processes are expected to continue, for both pre and post appointment returns.

Information on MTD VAT compatible software and how to choose a suitable product is available on the MTD software page.

Digital records can be maintained in more than one program or software product. The use of spreadsheets, either to record individual transactions or as part of a suite of software and spreadsheets is permitted. An existing spreadsheet alone is not a free way to comply with the MTD VAT requirements as it will not have the functionality to file the return.

Spreadsheets need to be either API enabled or, more likely, used in combination with a commercial MTD compatible software product or spreadsheet so that data can be sent to and received from HMRC systems.

Where records are maintained in more than one program or product there must be digital links between each of the software products/spreadsheets. Information cannot be transferred manually between products.

Digital links have been defined as follows:

• emailing a spreadsheet containing digital records to a tax agent so that the agent can import the data into their software to carry out a calculation (for instance, a partial exemption calculation);
• transferring a set of digital records onto a portable device (for example, a pen drive, memory stick, flash drive) and physically giving this to an agent to import that data into their software;
• XML, CSV import and export, and download and upload of files; 
• automated data transfer;
• API transfer; or
• linked cells within or between spreadsheets. The transfer of information by the use of copy and paste or cut and paste does not meet the requirement for a digital link 

Section 5 of the MTD VAT notice includes a number of examples that illustrate the extent to which digital links are required. 

MTD VAT functional compatible software must be able to: 

• Keep records in a digital form.
• Preserve records in a digital form.
• Create a VAT return from the digital records.
• Provide HMRC with VAT returns and voluntary information by using the API (application program interface) platform.
• Receive information from HMRC using the API platform. This includes messages about a requirement to file and confirmation of successful filing and will allow HMRC to send ‘nudge’ messages to the business/agent when that functionality is developed.

The requirement to keep digital records does not mean that businesses have to scan and store invoices and receipts digitally. Businesses can continue to keep documents in paper form if they prefer but each individual transaction (not summaries) needs to be recorded and stored digitally. HMRC would like to encourage records to be kept in as near to real time as possible, but it is still possible to create the digital records at periodic intervals, using a bookkeeper or other agent if required, provided the information is entered into a digital record keeping system before the return is filed.

The regulations require the following records to be kept digitally:

Designatory data:

• The name of the business or organisation.
• The address of the principal place of business.
• The VAT registration number.
• Details of any VAT accounting schemes used.

For supplies made: 

• The time of supply.
• The value of the supply.
• The rate of VAT charged.

If multiple supplies subject to the same rate of VAT are made at the same time these do not have to be recorded separately. The business can record the total value of supplies on each invoice that has the same time of supply and rate of VAT charged.

The corollary applies: if an invoice has supplies at different rates of VAT (eg, adult’s and children’s shoes) there must be a separate digital record for each rate of VAT charged. The business must split the total value of supplies on the invoice and make a separate entry in the digital records for each rate of VAT charged. This is needed to meet the requirement to have a record of outputs value for the period split between standard rate, reduced rate, zero rate, exempt and outside the scope outputs. There is a relaxation for mixed rate supplies at a single inclusive price (eg, meal deals).

For supplies received:

• The time of supply.
• The value of the supply including any VAT that is not claimable by the business.
• The amount of input tax to be claimed.

If there is more than one supply on an invoice the business can record the totals from the invoice. 

VAT account:

The VAT account is the link - the audit trail - between the business records and the VAT return. The information required to be held in the VAT account must be kept digitally (the regulations refer to this as the “electronic account”), and the information in that electronic account is used by functional compatible software to calculate and fill in the VAT return.

To show the link between the output tax in the records and the output tax on the return, the business must have a digital record of: 

• The output tax it owes on sales.
• The output tax it owes on acquisitions from other EU member states (NI only)
• The tax it is required to pay on behalf of its suppliers under the reverse charge procedure.
• The tax that needs to be paid following a correction or error adjustment.
• Any other adjustment required by VAT rules.

To show the link between the input tax in the accounting records and the input tax on the VAT return the business must have a record of:

• The input tax it is entitled to claim from business purchases.
• The input tax allowable on acquisitions from other EU member states (NI only).
• The tax that it is entitled to reclaim following a correction or error adjustment.
• Any other necessary adjustment.

Certain records, such as fuel scale charge calculations, partial exemption calculations and capital goods scheme adjustments, are not included in the list of records that must be kept digitally. Such adjustments can be calculated outside the digital records with a journal entry being made for each type of adjustment.

The cash accounting scheme which allows businesses to account for VAT on the basis of payments made and received rather than on invoices continues. Such businesses are, however, required to record individual supplies made and received and creating digital records from bank statements alone does not satisfy the requirements. 

Some software records reverse charge transactions and it is not necessary to have separate entries for the self-supply and purchase. If the software does not record reverse charge transactions it is necessary to record reverse charge transactions twice, once as a supply made and a second time as a supply received.

Records must be kept for six years (or 10 years if the business used VATMOSS). Digital records need to be maintained for six years following deregistration but may be kept in alternative formats rather than in functional compatible software.

As explained in the previous section, the MTD regulations generally require a digital record of each and every transaction. There are exceptions for:

Retail schemes

Retailers can record gross daily takings (not weekly, monthly or quarterly) rather than each individual transaction. This means that there does not need to be a digital link between tills and the accounting records; recording the daily totals in the digital accounting records meets the requirements. Many businesses are using a retail scheme without understanding that they are doing so. 

Flat rate schemes

The flat rate scheme continues and digital records of supplies received are not required (unless they relate to capital items which cost more than £2,000 including VAT). 

Margin schemes

The additional records required for margin schemes and the calculation of the marginal VAT charged do not need to be kept in digital form. These records must still be maintained in some form.

Records maintained by third parties

The regulations allow HMRC to issue notices to relax the digital record keeping requirements where it would be impossible, impractical or unduly onerous to comply.

Supplies made

The MTD VAT notice allow supplies made by third party agents to fall outside the digital record keeping requirements until the point at which the agent supplies the information to the business. This allows a summary of supplies made by an agent to be treated as a single invoice to create the digital record. The example given is that of a letting agent and HMRC has confirmed that the relaxation also applies to barristers who can use summaries prepared by their clerk. This relaxation does not apply to records maintained by customers, employees or volunteers who are not third-party agents.

Supplies received

There is a similar relaxation for supplies received by third-party agents and for employee and volunteer expenses. This relaxation does not apply to records maintained by suppliers but there is a separate relaxation which allows digital records to be created from supplier statements but only where all the supplies on the statement relate to the same VAT period and the total VAT charged at each rate is shown.

There is a relaxation which allows a number of petty cash transactions to be recorded as a single transaction. This applies to individual purchases with a VAT-inclusive value below £50 and the total value of petty cash transactions recorded in this way cannot exceed a VAT-inclusive value of £500 per entry.

There is an additional relaxation for one-off charity fundraising events which allows a single entry for supplies made and a single entry for supplies received.