Correct a quarterly update submitted with the wrong National Insurance number

Sage Sole Trader and Sage Accounting lock a quarterly update after you submit it. You can't change the National Insurance number afterwards.

The National Insurance number in your business settings determines which HMRC account receives your quarterly updates. If you enter the wrong number, HMRC posts your figures to the wrong tax record.

After your first submission, you can't edit the National Insurance number. Sage can't change it for you. This affects every future quarter for that business, not only the quarter you submitted.

There are two separate problems to fix:

• Your Sage data sits under the wrong National Insurance number
• HMRC holds a submission against the wrong tax record

You fix the first one in Sage. Only HMRC can fix the second one.

Before you start

• Confirm the correct National Insurance number for the business owner
• Have the business owner's Government Gateway user ID and password to hand

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Set up a new business

1. Add a new business to your account. 
   
   TIP:

   Use a slightly different business name so you can tell the two apart. For example, add New to the end.

    

2. Enter the correct National Insurance number for the business owner.
3. Connect the new business to HMRC.
4. Sign in with the business owner's Government Gateway details.
5. Check the National Insurance number on the screen before you go any further.

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Re-enter your transactions

Enter the transactions again in the new business. Sage can't copy them across for you.

Check the totals in the new business match the original before you submit.

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Submit the quarterly update

1. Open the quarterly updates area in the new business.
2. Select the period you need to submit.
3. Check the figures against your records.
4. Submit the update to HMRC.
5. Confirm the submission shows on the business owner's HMRC account.

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Cancel the original subscription

Cancel the original subscription once the new business submits without error.

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Contact HMRC about the incorrect submission

Only HMRC can remove or amend a submission on the wrong tax record. Contact HMRC and explain that you sent a quarterly update under the wrong National Insurance number.

Have these details ready:

• The National Insurance number you used in error
• The correct National Insurance number
• The business name and the period you submitted
• The date of the submission

For contact details, go to GOV.UK.

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Check your details before your first submission

You can change the National Insurance number at any point before your first submission.

Check it against the business owner's HMRC letter or National Insurance card when you set up a business.

One business covers one person's income. Set up a separate business for each person who needs to submit.