Step-By-Step Guide

To submit a VAT return using Easy MTD VAT, perform some or all of the following steps:

• Sign up for an account
• Download, install and launch
• Add a business
• Grant authority
• Show VAT information
• Specify your account
• Submit a VAT return

It is assumed your business is VAT registered and your HMRC account is ready for Making Tax Digital for VAT.

Sign Up for an Account

Before a VAT return can be submitted using Easy MTD VAT you must sign up for a Fly Software account.

1. Go to easymtdvat.com

2. Click the Sign Up button

3. Specify account details then click the SIGN UP button

Download, Install and Launch

To use Easy MTD VAT to submit a VAT return it must be downloaded, installed and launched.

1. Go to easymtdvat.com

2. Click the Download menu button

3. Click the Download button

4. Click the Download Now button and when the download is complete, run the Easy_MTD_VAT_Setup.exe

The setup file is normally saved in the Downloads folder of your computer and is also presented in your browser.

5. Follow the installation steps

6. Double click the Easy MTD VAT shortcut on your Windows Desktop

7. Close the Notification window (if shown)

Add a Business

A business must be added to Easy MTD VAT before a VAT return can be submitted. After Easy MTD VAT is launched, you are automatically prompted to add a business if a business has not already been added, or it can be added at any time in the following way:

1. Click the Add button

2. Specify the VAT Registration Number of the business then click the Lookup button

3. Click the Save button

If you are an agent, click here for information about assigning the business to an agent.

Grant Authority

Permission for Easy MTD VAT to interact with HMRC on behalf of the business must be granted.

1. Click the Authority button

The correct business must be selected in the Business list box.

2. In your browser, click the Continue button

3. Specify your Government Gateway User ID and Password then click the Sign In button

NOTE: If you are an agent and the business has been added to your agent services account, please refer to the Agent section in this knowledge base article for details about what to do when granting authority.

4. Select how you want to receive an access code then click the Continue button

5. Specify the access code sent to you then click the Continue button

6. Click the Grant authority button

7. Click the Copy button

8. Click the Paste Code button

9. Click the Grant Authority button

9. Click the OK button

If granting authority is unsuccessful, click here for information about why this may have occurred and how to resolve it.

Show VAT Information

VAT information including open obligations, fulfilled obligations, payments and liabilities must be retrieved from HMRC before submitting a VAT return.

1. Click the Get button

The correct business must be selected in the Business list box.

Specify Your Account

Easy MTD VAT must be associated with your Fly Software account. You are automatically prompted to specify your account prior to submitting a VAT return, or it can be specified at any time in the following way:

1. Click the Settings menu

2. Click the Account option

3. Specify your account Email and Password then click the OK button

Submitting a VAT Return

Now the VAT information has been retrieved from HMRC and an account specified, a VAT return can be submitted.

1. Click the open obligation associated with the VAT return you want to submit

2. Click the Submit button

3. Click the Find button

If you need to submit a nil VAT return, you can skip this step and steps 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and instead click (tick) the Nil VAT Return checkbox.

4. Locate then click the Excel file where the box figures appear

Box figures can also appear in a text (txt) file or comma-separated values (csv) file. If they do, steps 6 and 7 below can be ignored.

5. Click the Open button

6. For each box figure, select the Sheet Name where the associated value appears in the Excel file*

Click here for further information about determining and selecting a sheet.

7. For each box figure, specify the Cell where the associated value appears in the Excel file*

Click here for further information about determining and specifying a cell.

8. Ensure the box figures are correct

9. Click the Submit button

You will need a submission token in your account to progress further. You were gifted one when you signed up for a Fly Software acount.

Buy one or more submission tokens

14. Click (tick) the Declaration checkbox then click the Submit button

15. Click the OK button

*Dealing with box figures that are not applicable or need to be calculated

If certain box figures are not applicable to you (e.g. box 2, box 8 and box 9 are normally zero) or you would like Easy MTD VAT to automatically calculate box 3 and box 5, do not specify a sheet name or a cell (e.g. leave them blank) for the applicable boxes.

If you are unable to submit a VAT return, please consult the Help, read articles in the Knowledge Base, or request support using the Contact Form.