Submit UK VAT Return online

Before you begin

Before you begin, you must have:

Selected Enable Online VAT Submissions in the Nominal Ledger settings.
Registered your company for online VAT services with the HMRC and have your company's HMRC user ID and Password.

Submit your VAT Return online

Open: Nominal Ledger > Period End Routines > VAT Analysis

On the Current Period Return tab, check and make adjustments to your VAT Return if required.
Click Produce VAT Return.

Note: This is the final VAT Return for this period. You cannot make any changes to the VAT Return once you have selected Produce the VAT Return. All the transactions are marked as reconciled, and cannot be included in any subsequent returns.
Click Yes to the confirmation message. The Online VAT Credentials window appears.
Check your contact details are correct. You can change them here if necessary. You must complete all the boxes. This must also include a valid Email address (e.g. the address should contain an @ and end with .com, .co.uk).
Enter your User ID and Password. Enter your password again in the Confirm Password box.

This is your User ID and Password for HMRC Online Services.
To submit your VAT Return to HMRC, click OK.
Follow the steps in the Sage Internet Submissions wizard.

Note: If you see a "This page can't be displayed" message, and you use Sage 200 Professional versions 2021 R1 or earlier, see Knowledgebase article: Sage 200 Professional - 'This page can’t be displayed’ when submitting your VAT return (opens in a new tab).

If your submission is successful

You will see a submission successful message.
Click the link to view the submission log. This contains the unique reference number assigned to your submission by HMRC. It also includes the date the payment is due.
You can also view the submission log from the Completed Period Returns tab of the VAT Analysis window.

If your submission is not successful

You will see a failed submission message.
Click the link to view the submission log.

This shows the submission error code for your VAT Return. These codes are generated by HMRC and provide an explanation for the failure of the return.

Note: After closing the Sage Internet Submissions wizard, you cannot view the submission log for failed returns.
Click More Info to see an explanation of the error code.

For further explanation of the most common errors, see Common online submissions error messages (UK only).
To re-submit your return:

Open: Nominal Ledger > Period End Routines > VAT Analysis
1. Move to the Complete Period Totals tab.
2. Select the failed submission, which will be highlighted in orange.
3. Click Re-submit.
4. Check your contact details and re-enter your HMRC User ID and Password. Confirm the password and click OK.
5. Follow the steps in the VAT Submission wizard.

Outcomes

Your VAT Return is finalised for the VAT period.
Your VAT Return is submitted online to HMRC.
A copy of the VAT Return and the VAT transactions reports are printed.

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