Set up online filing in Personal Tax
Get HMRC’s authorisation for online filing
You must be authorised by HMRC to submit tax returns electronically. The Self Assessment for Agents: HMRC online services guidance at gov.uk explains how. You'll set up a User ID and password as part of this process.
Enter HMRC credentials in Digita Database Security
- Type "Database Security" in your Windows search box, then selectDatabase Securityfrom the search results to launch the application.
- Select theUser Permissionstab in the Database Security dialog box.
- Select theUser Namefor the person to be set up with online filing permissions, then selectEdit.
- Enter the user’s HMRC User ID and password for online filing in the Online Filing Details group.
- If you want Personal, Business and Trust Tax to remember the user’s HMRC online filing password, mark theRemember passwordcheckbox.
- SelectOK.
- Repeat steps 3-6 above for each user authorised to use online filing.
- CloseDatabase Security.noteA different method is to set up a new generic user for the purposes of online filing or use the default userPassand add HMRC online filing credentials to this single user account.
Test to identify problems (recommended)
- Test method number 1
- Open the client in Personal, Business and Trust Tax.
- SelectReports,Tools, andWarningsfrom the main menu.
- SelectOKto run the report.noteThis will test your return in the same way as HMRC validates returns and will generate a report to help you solve problems before submission.
- Test method number 2
- SelectForm, thenTest in Livefrom the main menu.
- SelectSubmit.noteThis submits the return to HMRC as a ‘test’ to check that it passes HMRC validation. Details are not stored by HMRC.
Obtain your client’s authorisation
- Generate and print the tax return, including the cover sheet with authorisation wording and the ‘IR mark’.The IR mark is displayed on every page of the tax return, including supplementary pages.
- Obtain a copy of the tax return signed by the client to gain their authorisation for you to file online as agent.
Submit a tax return using online filing
- Close the client's tax return if it is open:
- Right-click anywhere on the Return and selectClose Formfrom context menu.
- SelectForm, thenFinalise Tax Returnfrom the main menu.
- Complete items 1 to 5 in the Finalise Tax Return dialog.noteTheValidate and Submitbutton is only activated when items 1 to 5 of the dialog box have been completed.If theValidate and Submitbutton is greyed out (inactive) theStatusbox will explain why.
- SelectValidate and Submit.notePersonal, Business and Trust Tax will attempt to validate the Return. If anything is found that is known to cause a failure of HMRC validation, the process will be stopped before the Return is transmitted to HMRC.
- Enter your HMRC online services password if prompted to do so. You'll not be asked if you’ve selected theRemember passwordcheckbox inDatabase Security.noteA message will confirm whether the Return has been filed successfully or failed. If failed, there will be an explanation of the reason for failure.
Monitor progress
- Open the client in Personal, Business and Trust Tax, then select the relevantTracker Tasksfrom Client Summary.
- SelectReports,Form, thenOnline Filing Statusto run an Agent Online Filing Status Report to monitor the status of all online filing.note
- The Tracker Task called Submitted to IR will be updated with the date of submission
- The Tracker Task called Accepted by IR will be updated with the date of acceptance.
- You should receive a confirmatory email from HMRC to the email address you gave when setting up your HMRC online filing authorisation.