MTD VAT Bridging

Acxite is HMRC-recognised software designed to help businesses and accounting professionals manage records and submit VAT returns. In addition to its full accounting solution, Acxite provides a Bridging solution for users who maintain their records in spreadsheets but still need to submit their VAT returns through Making Tax Digital (MTD).

This guide explains how to enable VAT Bridging in Acxite, connect your account to HMRC, and submit a return, from setup through to filing.

Set Up the Business and Enable Bridging

After signing up, you’ll be taken to the Add Business page. Follow these steps to set up the business for MTD VAT filing:

Step 1 – On the first page, select the desired Role:

• Accountant, Bookkeeper or Professional Service Provider
• Individual, Business Owner, or Finance Professional

Acxite then takes you to the business information screen.

Already have an account? Click the gear icon on your dashboard, select Add New Business, and continue from Step 2.

Step 2 – Complete the Basic Information screen:

• Business/Person Name — the full name of the business or individual.
• Business/Person Short Name — add a short name.
• Country — select the country where the business operates.
• Base Currency — select the currency the business uses.
• Business Type — choose from Limited Company, Not for Profit, Partnership, or Others.
• Industry — select the industry the business operates in.

Note: The short name is used to create your business document inbox, which you can use to email documents to your business.

Step 3 – Continue to the next screen and choose the Solution Type as MTD VAT Filing.

Step 4 – On the Pricing screen, select your plan (Free Bridging or Easy Bridging). Use the toggles at the top right to switch between GBP and USD, and Monthly and Annual.

Note: Paid plans include a 14 day free trial with no credit card required. Accountant plans are discounted when bought as a bundle.

Step 5 – Move on to the Security Compliance screen and set up Two-Factor Authentication: scan the QR code with your authenticator app, enter the confirmation code, and click Verify.

Note: 2FA is a mandatory HMRC requirement for MTD. You cannot connect to HMRC until it is enabled.

Step 6 – Enter your VAT Registration Number.

Step 7 – Click Connect Now to authorise with Government Gateway, using your MTD credentials.

Note: You can also click Connect Later to finish setup without connecting, and connect from the Bridging Dashboard whenever you’re ready.

Once setup is complete, Acxite redirects you to the VAT Summary page, where you can see your VAT obligations, select the desired obligation, and upload values from a spreadsheet.

Connect Your Acxite Account to HMRC

If you didn’t connect to HMRC while setting up the business, you can do so now from the Bridging Dashboard by following these steps:

Step 1 – From the VAT Summary page, click Connect to HMRC in the top right.

Step 2 – Enter your VAT Registration Number in the dialogue box, if not already entered.

Step 3 – Click Connect.

Step 4 – Complete HMRC authentication using the User ID and Password linked to your MTD account.

A notification confirms: Successfully connected to HMRC.

Note: After connecting to HMRC, the system automatically retrieves your obligations.

Step 5 – If you do not see the desired obligation in the list, click Get Previous Obligation to retrieve it for a specific date.

Step 6 – In the pop-up window, select the required date, then click Get Obligations.

A confirmation notification appears once your obligations have been retrieved successfully.

Import Your VAT Data From Spreadsheet

Once your obligations have been retrieved, you can import the figures for the period you want to submit. Acxite reads those values from an Excel or CSV file, so your records can stay in a spreadsheet. Follow the steps below to import them.

Step 1 – Click the file icon for the obligation you want to report to HMRC.

Step 2 – Choose how you want to provide your figures:

• Use the Acxite standard template — download it, enter your figures, and Acxite maps the columns automatically, so you can skip the mapping step.
• Use your own Excel or CSV file — you’ll need to match your file’s columns to Acxite’s fields on the Map Columns screen.

Tip: Copy the template into a new sheet in your existing Excel file, then link the cells back to your source data. This keeps your digital link intact rather than manually re-typing figures. See the Digital Links section below.

Step 3 – Click Upload File, select your Excel or CSV file, and click Next.

Step 4 – If you used your own file, tell Acxite on the Map Columns screen which column matches each required field:

• Box Number — select the column containing the HMRC box numbers (e.g. 1, 2, 3…).
• Amount — select the column containing the figure for each box.

Step 5 – Review the imported data, then click Confirm and Import.

A notification confirms: Data imported successfully.

Submit to HMRC

After importing your figures, follow the steps below to review and submit your VAT return to HMRC.

Step 1 – Review the VAT return information for accuracy.

Step 2 – Click Submit to HMRC.

Step 3 – In the final pop-up window, select the declaration checkbox to confirm the information is true and complete, then click Confirm and Submit.

Step 4 – Once the VAT filing is successful, view or print your VAT submission receipt for your records.

Your VAT return has now been successfully submitted to HMRC.

End User Responsibility When Using Bridging

Bridging software is a submission tool: it sends the figures you provide. The accuracy and compliance of those figures remain your responsibility.

Digital Links

HMRC’s Making Tax Digital rules require your figures to flow digitally from your original records through to submission, without being manually re-keyed along the way. Copying and pasting via software functions, importing or exporting data, and using formulas to link cells across spreadsheets all count as valid digital links. Typing figures by hand from one sheet into another does not. For more details, please refer to the HMRC guide.

Accuracy of Figures

Acxite submits the figures exactly as entered and does not validate whether they’re correct. Before submitting, confirm the right accounting period is selected and that your figures reconcile with your underlying records.

Record Keeping

Keep your underlying records in line with HMRC’s requirements, typically six years for VAT, and five years from the 31 January filing deadline for Income Tax. Keeping only the submitted figures is not sufficient.

Amendments

If you spot an error after submission, notifying HMRC and filing a correction is your responsibility. Acxite can process a corrected return, but identifying the error and working out the right figures is down to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• MTD VAT Filing
• MTD Income Tax Filing