Rob

Which number are you calling? If you go thorugh the motions of entering the info on the site and do not enter the correct details, it will say so in red at the top of the screen. It will also direct you to call a number if you ahve problems - I have called before and they are very helpful especially as their systems are not up to date wiht things like last quarter date etc. which is why the app would not accept the data. You can then enter the data whilst they are on the phone just to ensure its all good.

I havent got my papers with me today, so cannot remember the number, sorry.

P

Hi Rob,

You can try 02920 501 261 but this is the same as the 0845 0109000.
Or there is the number for online services 0845 01085000 I think that's the one Phil mentioned above.
I do really hate when I go through all the press this press that and at the and comes the we are very busy and they hang up...

Hi Rob

Can't help with different number but I'm guessing there are a lot of people trying to get online at the last minute and having problems, so phoning the help line (or HMRC have chosen today to have a training day),

I had exactly the same problem the other day.

Because I'm not a registered agent for my client I got him to ring them and he got through quite quickly (less than ten minutes!!). They asked a few questions like date of last VAT return and the amount due, and they gave him his registration date.

He also had to set up a direct debit (he did get a letter but forgot about it) which seemed straight forward but I just noticed that the system automatically added two extra digits to the end of his registration number in the reference box. Now starting to doubt whether HMRC will recognise the reference when the DD is paid.

Bill

Hi Philip

For him it was the most convenient method.

What worries me is that if you follow the online instructions for setting up a DD from the VAT return section, it just whizzes you through and job done.

In the cold light of day, when you review the separate instructions for setting up a DD it says set it up at least  five days before submitting the VAT return and ensure the reference used is the VAT registration number.

I am now starting to wonder, as it was done at the same time as the return will it get paid? And as stated earlier, the reference was automatically added by the system and added two extra digits, so will the DD not tie up to the VAT return?

Unfortunately, I took this client on from another bookkeeper, the client thought everything was up to date and all that needed doing was the return - wrong!! I was left with three months worth of sales and supplier invoices to enter, on a completely new accounts package. Sage data was in such a mess it wasn't worth the disc space it took up, so I started from scratch on a different package

It gets worse, the previous returns had been manually calculated from activity reports in Sage, which were incorrectly processed, as he is on cash accounting and the reports listed all transactions, which meant I had to go through each invoice and check to see if it had already been claimed against the last return(s).

I pushed back my other clients to get the return done in time (he had already had late filing notices, previously) and emailed it to him saying that because he was fling online and paying electronically it should be OK.

That's when I found out he hadn't done anything about it and as a goodwill gesture, I helped him set it up (he is a technophobe) and I made it clear that this was beyond the remit of my letter of engagement and that any delay or errors in the process are down to him.

Don't you just know this scenario is going to turn around and bite me in the assets.

Bill

From the contact I have had with him it is probably better that the more automated the function, the better for him. He is a little forgetful and is more likely to get late payment penalties if it left to him to do something.

This way all he needs to do is agree the VAT return and leave to me to file it.

Bill

PS Philip welcome back

You need 106 more for Guru or 1106 to get to Expert

Now if you hadn't been on holiday for so long.....

-- Edited by Wella on Thursday 1st of July 2010 02:31:43 PM