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1. Calculate and reconcile your VAT Return

1. If this is your first VAT period under MTD, check your VAT settings.
2. On the navigation pane click VAT, then click VAT Return.
3. To back up your data, click Back up and follow the on-screen prompts.
4. Under Date range, choose your VAT Return period then click Calculate VAT Return.
   
   If there are any transactions dated before the date range which haven't been reconciled the Earlier unreconciled transactions window appears. To include these transactions, click Include. If you don't want to include them, click Ignore.
   
   
5. Check your VAT figures and post any required adjustments.
6. Print your VAT Return reports.
7. Click Reconcile VAT Return then click Yes.

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2. Post the VAT transfer journal

1. Complete the VAT transfer area as follows:
   

   Date	Enter the date for the VAT Transfer.
   Sales Tax Amount	This is the amount from Box 1 on the VAT Return, you can amend this if required.
   Purchase Tax Amount	This is the amount from Box 4 minus the amount from Box 2 on the VAT Return, you can amend this if required.

2. Click Post Journal.

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3. Submit your VAT Return to HMRC

NOTE: If you intend to submit these figures as part of a group VAT Return using the Sage MTD Submissions Module, do not follow the steps below. Instead, click Close.

1. Be in the Complete VAT Return window. If you've exited from this window previously after reconciling the VAT return, to get back to this window double click on the VAT Return.
2. Click Submit online. 

 NOTE: If you've submitted the return to HMRC using another method, click the Mark as submitted check box. 

 

 

TIP: If you make MTD VAT Return submissions on behalf of a client and you've previously chosen to save your Agent Services Account (ASA) login credentials, every 18 months you'll be prompted by HMRC to re-enter your credentials during the VAT Return submission.

3. Click Next.
   
   

   

4. Check your company name and VAT Registration number are correct, then click Next.
   
   

   

5. In the Gov.uk window, scroll to the bottom and click Continue.
   
   
   

   

6. Enter your Government Gateway ID and password, click Sign in.
   
   

   

7. Click Continue then select a method to receive your access code.
8. Click Continue and follow the on-screen prompts.
9. In Access Code enter the code you received, then click Continue.
10. Click Continue then click Grant Authority.
    
    Authority must be granted each time you submit an MTD VAT Return.
    
    

    

11. Under Submit your period, in the drop-down click the obligation period you want to submit for.
    
    

    

    
    
    

    TIP: More than one obligation period may be listed, take care to choose the correct one. No obligation period showing? 

12. Click the confirmation check box then click Submit to HMRC.
    
    

    

13. When the successful submission window appears, click Close.
    
    Getting a submission error? 
    
    

    

14. If required, to view a submission confirmation report, click Submission confirmation.
15. If required, record your VAT bank payment however you have payment set up with HMRC, then click Close.
    
    NOTE: Sage doesn't automatically pay to or reclaim from HMRC. If you don't have a Direct Debit set up with HMRC you'll need pay them via the HMRC website.

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Getting a submission error?

It can occur that when you try to submit your Making Tax Digital VAT return, you receive an error. The cause and solution to that error depends on what the error is.

We have a list of the most common submission errors and how to resolve them.

You can also search the error message in our Help Centre to find out how to resolve it.