Making Tax Digital - VAT returns from VFP, anyone looking at it yet.

[GriffMG]

Just had a customer asking about whether one of our apps integrates with the latest version of Sage, because although they use an older version they will have to upgrade to the latest one to get the MTD additions.

This was news to me before today, I had seen GDPR coming, but not the need to make VAT returns digitally from April next year.

It seems HMRC do not want people rekeying numbers from existing systems into other systems to complete the APIs on their web sites - it has to be seamless, so if you are using a spreadsheet or a VFP app to prepare VAT returns, it must be that app or spreadsheet that does the submission.

For my part, I use a book keeping system I wrote for myself in 1999 to give me the numbers for boxes 1-9.

Has anyone started looking into the HMRC APIs and running them from within a VFP app?

Regards

Griff
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[Mike Lewis]

I agree with you, Griff. Like you, I've used a home-grown app for bookkeeping. It displays the boxes 1 - 9 on the screen or prints them to a report, and I've never thought it at all difficult to simply copy and paste the values to the on-line VAT return - especially as you only actually need to provide four values in most cases.

But, from what I understand, HMRC will now require those values to be inserted automatically, using API-enabled software. I haven't been able to find any documentation about the API, although presumably it must be available, given the large number of commercial software vendors who have implemented it (there's a list of these vendors on the HMRC site).

When PAYE went to mandatory electronic filing a few years ago, HMRC provided a tool for small businesses that let them do the monthly filing automatically. I'm surprised they don't provide something similar for VAT.

Let us know if you find out anything further.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

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[stirfry]

My understanding is that you need to make the transaction between accounts program and the sending software seamless. So you can export to a spreadsheet, create the required totals, do any adjustments, then MAP the figures you want from the spreadsheet into the sending software, ie do NOT copy & paste. You can also do everything in the spreadsheet then post to the sending software.
The sending software then needs to send the info to HMRC.
The API that HMRC uses can be obtained from here:

https://developer.service.hmrc.gov.uk/api-documentation

I have started the path to this. The first problem I have hit is how to use OAuth2. There does not appear to be many resources for VFP re this. (the HMRC site gives a JAVA example, I think). One bit of info I have found is CHILKAT OAuth2 Examples for VFP,

https://www.example-code.com/foxpro/oauth2.asp

This does appear to be pretty comprehensive with a direct translation of the HMRC examples. While this would be the easiest way to implement it, it does cost money, $289
If anyone knows any VFP OAuth2 examples I would appreciate it.
Andrew

 

[GriffMG]

I have some ChilKat stuff somewhere... for doing secure emails.

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

I'm trying to cut down on the use of shrieks (exclamation marks), I'm told they are !good for you. ​

 

[GriffMG]

Well, the time is now on us I guess.

Much research led me to a package called MTDSimple.

It's standalone and gob-smackingly simple to use, and costs just £25 - one-off not per month/year or whatever.

You just add an Excel export to whatever package you are using to generate your VAT numbers, then run up MTDSimple, authorise it, and point it at your spreadsheet.

Don't see how it could be simpler.

Regards

Griff
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There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

I'm trying to cut down on the use of shrieks (exclamation marks), I'm told they are !good for you. ​

 

[Mike Lewis]

Excellent news, Griff - and thanks for posting it.

It does sound like a very simple utility. In fact, I wonder why I didn't think of writing it myself. I could have done with a few cheuqes for £25.

Mike

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Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

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[GriffMG]

I think the guy is in for more than a few cheques...

I did consider writing one myself, even registered as a developer, was thinking of giving it away.

I held on thinking 'someone will do this' and at the last moment (for me) they have, and it is possibly easier than logging in to do it on line, one less sign in required.


Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

I'm trying to cut down on the use of shrieks (exclamation marks), I'm told they are !good for you. ​