ClaudiusTheIdiot wrote:Thank you bungeejumper for the question and to all those who answered. I suspect like many others I use a simple spreadsheet (in this case Excel 2000) so thought I was in for problems. I installed 100PcVatFreeBridge and used it for the first time yesterday. The instructions were clear and ...it just worked, no hassle. A small donation is all that is asked.
Well done, Claudius, I wish I'd found it as easy as you! I've been battling with 100PcVatFreeBridge today, and unfortunately it's been an uphill struggle all the way. But I think I've finally cracked it now. Won't know for sure till the next time I submit a VAT return in August
Okay, I have finally managed to get all my Excel link names set up, and 100PcVatFreeBridge is now reading the right numbers from my spreadsheet. The "Select Data Source" window shows a full set of correct numbers. But I thought I was in trouble when I hit Save and the
Grant VAT MTD Authority screen came up, and I just got a blank screen. And a transaction log that said:
Grant Authority
VAT authority needed (expired or never obtained). Performing grant authority procedure.
Failed to get VAT Authority!
And that's as far as I was getting. Why weren't they getting VAT authority? Because I was an idiot, that's why.
If I'd looked at the small print on the HMRC site (as you do......
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
), I'd have seen that I needed to action the MTD process from
inside my existing VAT account. Just getting an MTD bridge and trying to use it wouldn't ever have got me through the iron gates. Dammit, until I'd personally pre-approved the MTD connection, the bridge software wasn't even allowed to mention my VAT number!
Iron gates indeed. And with locks on either side. Fair enough. But it looks as though HMRC might be backing down a bit on the MTD deadline. Having previously told me that I wouldn't be able to make any more VAT returns through the traditional online process, the system unexpectedly accepted my online return for February to April without a murmur.
![Cool 8-)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Could it be that the (often incomprehensible) MTD take-up has been falling behind schedule? I wonder?
BJ