This section is for agents using an agent services account. If you are a business submitting your own VAT return, see Setting up MTD: businesses.
You need a subscription to VT Accounts to submit VAT returns through an agent services account, even if you only use VT Transaction+.
1.Get authorisation from your clients to act on their behalf
a)You need to do this through your HMRC agent services account. This is a different account to the older HMRC online services account for agents. If you do not have an agent services account, you can create one here.
b)Follow the steps in the 'digital handshake' process to get authorised. If you experience any issues during this step, contact HMRC.
2.Grant authority (once every 18 months)
a)Click on the VAT button 
and select Grant Authority.
| (Or if you are using VT MTD For Excel, select Add-Ins > VT MTD > Grant Authority.) |
b)Tick the box marked 'I'm using my agent services account for this client'.
c)Select Grant Authority to VT.. and OK.
d)The following web page opens in your web browser, select Continue.
| If you experience any technical issues at this point, see Grant authority errors. |
 |
d)Sign in with the government gateway user ID for your agent services account, not for the older HMRC online services account.
| If you cannot find this ID, search for 'Government Gateway User ID' in your emails. Alternatively, go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sign-in-to-your-agent-services-account,, click on 'Sign in', then select 'I have forgotten my Government Gateway User ID' and complete the steps that follow. If necessary, you may need to call HMRC on 0300 200 3700 (+44 292 050 1261 from outside the UK). |
e)Complete the instructions that follow. At the end of the process a long authorisation code appears on screen.
f)Click on the Copy button under the code, then close your web browser.
g)A dialog appears in VT with a Paste button, click on the Paste button.
| If you cannot see this dialog, close and re-open VT, open the Grant Authority dialog as shown in step 1a) above, and click where it says 'I have just granted authority and want to enter the authorisation code'. |
(If you are using VT MTD for Excel, see VT MTD For Excel)
a)Click on the VAT button and select New VAT return.
b)Enter the VAT period dates and select Save
c)To submit, click on the VAT button again, select the saved return from the list then click on Submit VAT return to HMRC.
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For more details on creating a VAT return click here.
| If you need to add more transactions before submitting, delete the VAT return, enter the transactions then re-run the return as shown in steps 3a) and 3b) above. |
If you encounter an error when submitting, see Errors when submitting a VAT return.
How authorisation codes are stored
If you tick the ‘I’m using my Agent Services Account for this client’ box in the Grant Authority dialog, the authorisation code is stored on the PC you are using. The same authorisation code can be used by VT Transaction+, VT Cash Book and VT MTD For Excel for any business that is linked to your agent services account. However, you need to grant authority from each PC you are using. VT supports and can store the codes for any number of agents.
Therefore if you move your software to another PC, you will need to grant authority again.
