Features/Requirements

The Ftax ‘Special Notice’ must be complied with to enable Ftax forms to submit online.

Select ‘Edit/Preferences/Security (Enhanced)’ from the Adobe Reader menu bar and untick the ‘enable enhanced security’ box. If you are using a Mac, please select ‘Adobe Reader/Edit/Preferences/ etc.’.

Also select ‘Edit/Preferences/Javascript’ from the Adobe Reader menu bar and ensure the boxes are ticked, unticked, unticked, and ticked.

Important Notice: While the ‘enable enhanced security’ box is unticked you are advised not to open pdf attachments emailed from unknown addresses (emails from ftax.co.uk will be ok). You may wish to leave the ‘enable enhanced security’ box ticked when you are not using Ftax.

You will need to open the forms using Adobe’s software (either Reader or Acrobat).

To download the latest version of Adobe’s Reader, for free, follow this link: https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/ .

Once you have the right software, you just need to make sure that you open the Ftax forms using that software:

1. Make sure that your browser saves the forms to your computer and doesn’t try to open them.

You must check that the browser prompts you to ‘Save’ when downloading files. 

In Chrome:

• Click on the 3 dots in the top right of your Chrome window and select Settings.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Advanced.
• In the Downloads section, click Clear next to Open certain file types automatically after downloading.
• This will clear all previous settings and will download files as the default action.

In Edge:

• Click on the 3 dots in the top right of your Edge window and select Settings.
• Select Downloads from the left hand menu and turn on Ask me what to do with each download.

In Firefox:

• select Tools/Options/General/Downloads from the menu bar, and tick ‘Show the Downloads window when downloading a file’. 

In Safari:

• Click Preferences and untick ‘open safe files after downloading’.
• Also untick ‘Block Pop Up Windows’. 

2. Make sure that your computer opens the saved forms using Adobe software.

Some computers may be set up to open pdf files using software other than Adobe software. There are many ways to change this behaviour, either by default, or for one time only.

One way to ensure you open the Ftax forms using Adobe software is to:

• Open the Adobe software (eg. Adobe Reader).
• From the File menu, select Open and navigate to the saved Ftax form.
• Click OK (or Open) to open the form.

3. Make sure Javascript is enabled.

If you open an Ftax form in Adobe software and see a notice on the front page prompting you to enable javascript, please navigate to the Preferences (from the Edit menu), select the Javascript category and make sure the ‘Enable Acrobat JavaScript’ tick box is ticked.

4. Unset Enhanced Security.

Select ‘Edit/Preferences/Security (Enhanced)’ from the Adobe Reader menu bar and untick the ‘enable enhanced security’ box. If you are using a Mac, please select ‘Adobe Reader/Edit/Preferences/ etc.’.

Important Notice: While the ‘enable enhanced security’ box is unticked you are advised not to open pdf attachments emailed from unknown addresses (emails from ftax.co.uk will be ok). You may wish to leave the ‘enable enhanced security’ box ticked when you are not using Ftax.

5. Re-open the Ftax Form.

Close the form (no need to save), and reopen it.

Ftax forms must be opened in Adobe Reader.

It is important not to open them in a browser, or other software (such as Preview, on a Mac).

You must check that your browser prompts you to ‘Save’ when downloading files. 

In Chrome:

• Click on the 3 dots in the top right of your Chrome window and select Settings.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Advanced.
• In the Downloads section, click Clear next to Open certain file types automatically after downloading.
• This will clear all previous settings and will download files as the default action.

In Edge:

• Click on the 3 dots in the top right of your Edge window and select Settings.
• Select Downloads from the left hand menu and turn on Ask me what to do with each download.

In Firefox:

• Select Tools/Options/General/Downloads from the menu bar, and tick ‘Show the Downloads window when downloading a file’. 

In Safari:

• Click Preferences and untick ‘open safe files after downloading’.
• Also untick ‘Block Pop Up Windows’. 

For details on the Ftax products go to About Ftax/ Ftax Editions & Prices on the Ftax website.

Ftax supports Windows 10 and macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and later.

All Ftax forms work in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Some clients report successfully using Ftax on Linux machines but this is not supported.

Recent browser versions are recommended. Ftax will not currently work on Tablets.

Note: if for any reason Ftax does not work on your computer then you will be refunded. Variations in computer platforms and local software and can sometime block Ftax operation, e.g. security software. 

There are a couple of situations where you may be prompted to change the preferences within Acrobat or Reader.

1. You might be asked to disable the Javascript Global Object Security model. This only needs to be disabled if you are using two or more Ftax forms at the same time. You can disable it by finding it in the prefereneces…
2. You might me asked to tell Acrobat or Reader to Trust one or more of our forms. This will allow them to connect securely to our servers. To do this, you will see a yellow bar across the top of the document with the text “Some features have been disabled to avoid potential security risks…”. There will also be a drop down menu called “Options” on the right of the yellow bar. From this select Trust Always and the from will prompt to save.

As part of our ongoing security improvements and our response to the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), we have altered the way we deliver these files.

The files are still created by our servers, but now we need you to login to your Ftax Account and download them using your computer’s browser.

The form has a new ‘Download’ button on the green receipt page that displays when you create the file:

Clicking the Download button will open your browser and take you to your ftax account homepage (you may need to log in en route).

From your account homepage, you will be able to download the most recently generated pdfcopy, iXBRL accounts or iXBRL computations files.

NOTE: We only retain the most recent of each type of file for you to download.

If you do not click the Download button on the form and you have received an email informimg you that your file has been created, you can still access it by logging into your Ftax Account at https://ftax.co.uk/.

We are not removing our old technical support email address immediately and if you do email us we will get help to you.

However, email is not a secure means of communicating and you should not send any personal information via email (for example, a completed tax form).

We also can’t guarantee the speed with which we will respond to your email.

Submitting a Support Request via this new support website is the fastest and most secure way to get help.

Yes, providing the licensing conditions of the Ftax package you have purchased permit this.

Ftax is a very intelligent pdf file which can be copied, moved, and renamed in the same way that any other file can.

This means that you can transfer a copy to another computer using a memory stick. Alternatively, you can simply download Ftax again from your Ftax Account to another computer.

If you wish to delete your data that we hold, please raise a support ticket asking us to do so.

We will contact you to confirm the request is legitimate before actually deleting your data.
We will also confirm what data you wish us to delete.
We will also give you the opportunity to receive a portable copy of your data if you wish.

Once deleted, your data will no longer be held by us, and we will not be able to recover it.

Please note that deleting some or all of your data will not remove your ftax account.
If you wish us to remove your entire Ftax Account, please ask us in your support request.

The best way to see Ftax in action is to look through some of our videos on this site:

• How to use the Ftax SA100
• How to use the Ftax CT600
• How to use the Ftax SA900
• How to use the Ftax SA800

The Ftax PDF forms need to communicate with your Ftax Account to manage your data and your credits.

You must now login using your email address and password – your email is your username.

Click on the ‘?’ in a red ball, select the bottom option, and untick the box in the popup.

Enter your Ftax Account Username and Password and click ‘Login’.

If you also tick the ‘Save login details on computer’ box then the Ftax form will automatically login to your Ftax Account when it needs to.

If you have any problems please take a look at the FAQ: I cannot login to my Ftax Account. What should do?

Adobe Reader is setup to automatically update periodically  when you are connected to the internet. There is no preference within Reader which allows you to change this behaviour.

If you wish to, one way to stop the updates for Windows10, is:

1. Click the Windows Search box (the question mark) and type ‘services’ then click the Services App to open it.

2. Right-click the ‘Adobe Acrobat Update Service’ in the right hand pane of the app and select ‘Properties’ from the menu that appears.

3. On the ‘General’ tab, change the ‘Startup type’ to ‘Disabled’, then click ‘Apply’.

4 Still on the ‘General’ tab, click the ‘Stop’ button to stop the service.

5. Click ‘OK’ to close the dialogue box then close the ‘Services’ app (click the X in the top right).

To re-start the automatic updates for Windows10, the process similar:

1. Click the Windows Search box (the question mark) and type ‘services’ then click the Services App to open it.
2. Right-click the ‘Adobe Acrobat Update Service’ in the right hand pane of the app and select ‘Properties’ from the menu that appears.
3. On the ‘General’ tab, change the ‘Startup type’ to ‘Automatic’, then click ‘Apply’.
4. Still on the ‘General’ tab, click the ‘Start’ button to stop the service.
5. Click ‘OK’ to close the dialogue box then close the ‘Services’ app (click the X in the top right).