Businesses that missed the deadline for signing up for MTD, so can’t file their VAT return using MTD software, won’t be penalised as long as they file the VAT return on time using the old HMRC portal.

This information was provided in an email to tax agents from HMRC’s MTD for Business Customer Readiness & External Stakeholder Team, sent 1st August. The full statement says:

 “If you pay by direct debit the sign-up window has closed for the 7 August. Do not worry we won’t penalise you this time, so file the old way and come back when the DD has been collected to sign up in time to file the next return. Although we will not penalise you, you will receive a letter from us telling you that you missed the deadline and asking you to take action.”

This will be a big comfort to the thousands of businesses and tax agents that have been waiting for the confirmation of MTD sign-up to arrive from HMRC. This email is supposed to be issued within 72 hours of a successful MTD sign-up. However, there is currently a delay in sending out these emails so it may take a little longer than 72 hours to receive the confirmation.

If you are having difficulty in signing up for MTD or finding suitable software please give me a call or email noel@guilfordaccounting.co.uk with MTDHelp in the subject line and I’ll get straight back to you.

 

Noel Guilford