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Connecting HMRC and client authorisation

Before Fyling can read a client's tax records or send a return to HMRC, two things have to be true. Your practice is connected to HMRC, and HMRC knows the client has authorised your practice to act for them. This page covers both, in the order you do them.

What Fyling does and does not do

Fyling connects your practice's agent Government Gateway account, for VAT. An owner does this once.

It keeps a checklist of which taxes each client has authorised you for, with the expiry date from HMRC's letter. It never asks for the code itself.

It cannot accept a request for the client. The client does that with HMRC, signed in to their own account.

What you need first

An HMRC agent services account for your practice. If you do not have one, HMRC explains how to get one.

Source: gov.uk: Get an HMRC agent services account

How to connect your practice

  1. Open Settings, then HMRC connection. Only an owner can do this.
  2. Press Connect. HMRC's sign-in page opens. Sign in with your practice's agent account and allow access.
  3. You come back to Fyling and the connection shows as connected.

There are two connections. Production is HMRC's real service. Sandbox is HMRC's test service, for trying things with HMRC test users; nothing there reaches a real tax record.

HMRC gives Fyling an access key for your practice. It is encrypted when stored and never shown.

How a VAT client authorises you

  1. Open VAT. Once your practice is connected, follow the client authorisations link and pick the client company.
  2. Enter the VAT number and the VAT registration date as they appear on the client's VAT certificate. HMRC checks one against the other.
  3. Send the request. The client accepts it with HMRC. The page shows where the request stands, and you can withdraw one that is still waiting.

Already act for the client with HMRC? On the client's VAT page, choose "Check with HMRC". If HMRC answers, the client is marked as authorised. If HMRC refuses, nothing changes.

Source: gov.uk: Client authorisation, an overview

Self Assessment, Corporation Tax and PAYE

Open the client, then HMRC access & handover. There is a row for each tax the client's services need. You ask HMRC for these yourself, online or on paper form 64-8, and record each step here: requested, code received, authorised, lapsed, or not needed. When HMRC posts the client a code, type in only the expiry date printed on the letter.

Source: gov.uk: Authorising your agent (64-8)

Why the checklist matters

Fyling will not send a Corporation Tax or Self Assessment return for a client unless that tax is marked authorised on the client's HMRC access page.

Those two returns go to HMRC under a separate login: your practice's Government Gateway login, saved by an owner under Settings, HMRC connection, HMRC online filing. It is encrypted and never shown again after you save it.