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Doing a VAT Return
Doing a VAT Return

You can export your data and use bridging software to submit your VAT return

Updated over a year ago

Coconut can be used to record your VAT on your income and expenses on a cash basis. Whether you are on the standard scheme or flat rate scheme.

To submit your VAT return, right now you’ll need to pair Coconut with some other software called bridging software (although completing the submission through Coconut is on our roadmap).

Completing your VAT return yourself

To do this complete the following steps:

Step 1: Export your transaction data to CSV

Once you're happy that you've set the correct VAT amount on each transaction for your VAT period, you can export your data:

Step 2: Work out the totals for each box

To complete an MTD-compliant VAT return, you can use the following VAT Return Generator by importing the transaction data to it from Step 1:

Format

Link

Google Sheets

View Spreadsheet*

* Then click File > Make a copy

Microsoft Excel

Download Spreadsheet

You'll find the instructions for using the VAT Return Generator detailed in the document itself. Note that under the MTD rules, the Spreadsheet will count as your VAT record.

To see an example of a completed VAT return using the VAT Return Generator, see here: VAT Return Generator - Completed Example

Step 3: Use Bridging Software to submit your VAT return

Here are some links to bridging software that can be used to make your submissions:

  1. GoSimpleVAT: GoSimpleTax offer a VAT bridging solution that's MTD compliant. Use the v1 template (you'll need to copy it to it to a new spreadsheet that contains only the template, and then save it as xlsx format (rather than csv)).

  2. My Tax Digital: This is free bridging software that will enable you to submit your VAT figures.  Use the v2 template for the import on this one.

  3. Tax Optimiser: A free solution (for the first year) and can link up to any excel sheet that you keep your records on and submit the return through their cloud based solution.

There are quite a few bridging software solutions, so be sure to do further research into what works best for you.

Use your accountant

If your accountant submits your return for you, you can share access with them. They’ll be able to export your data from there and use that to prepare and submit your return using bridging or accounting software.

Read more:

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