Set up Making Tax Digital with Sage VAT Centre
This is step 4 of 7 to set up your practice.
On this page learn how to:
- Create an Agent Services Account with HMRC
- Link existing Government Gateway accounts to your Agent Services Account
- Register your existing clients for Making Tax Digital for VAT
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a key part of the government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs.
Learn more about MTD with our MTD Toolkit (opens in a new window or tab)
Set up Making Tax Digital for VAT with HMRC
- Create an Agent Services Account
- Link your existing Government Gateway accounts to your Agent Services Account
- Register your clients for Making Tax Digital for VAT
Create an Agent Services Account
You need an Agent Services Account to access new HMRC online services and to use software to communicate directly with HMRC. This account is used to carry out tasks in relation to clients who are registered for an MTD service. (HMRC provide one agent services account per firm.)
Get an Agent Services Account via the HMRC website (opens in a new window or tab)
Link your existing Government Gateway accounts to your Agent Services Account
Your agent authorisation is recorded under the Government Gateway user IDs you have. You might have several User IDs in your practice linked to different sets of clients.
Once you've set up your Agent Services Account, you'll need to log in to the account to link your existing Government Gateway user IDs. This will transfer your existing client authorisations to your new Agent Services Account allowing you to act on behalf of existing clients under MTD.
To do this, log in to your Agent Services Account (opens in a new window or tab) and select the option to allow access to existing client relationships.
Remember this doesn't register your clients for MTD for VAT: it just means that you will be authorised to act on their behalf should the client, or you on their behalf, sign up for MTD for VAT.
Register your clients for Making Tax Digital for VAT
If your client is registered for VAT, log in to your Agent Services Account (opens in a new window or tab) and follow the instructions for signing them up for MTD for VAT.