Ftax (MTD) Cashbook

No. There are several ways the Ftax MTD forms may be used:

1. You may advise your client to purchase the non-agent Ftax VAT or Ftax Cashbook package. These feature a single copy to be used solely by the client.
2. If you have purchased either an Ftax Agent VAT or an Ftax Agent Cashbook package then you may generate both the agent and client copies before securely transferring the latter to your client using the password provided. The two copies are designed to be ‘sync’ed when in use so that the agent and client view the same data. Either may complete the form or submit to HMRC. Typically, the client may enter the VAT data, (either directly into the Ftax Cashbook, or into their own spreadsheet before using the Ftax VAT Link to transfer the data to the Ftax VAT pdf form), under the supervision of the agent.
3. If you have purchased either an Ftax Agent VAT or an Ftax Agent Cashbook package then you may generate the agent copy only. You should do this if you plan to complete and submit the form on behalf of your client.
4. If you have purchased either an Ftax Agent VAT or an Ftax Agent Cashbook package then you may choose to only generate the client copy before securely transferring this form to your client using the password provided. The client would then be able to enter all VAT data and submit to HMRC themselves.

Both the Ftax VAT and the Ftax Cashbook packages enable the submission of VAT returns to HMRC in an MTD compliant manner.

The Ftax Cashbook is a low cost ‘online accounting’ solution, and as such enables the input of income and expense details. This data is then used to calculate VAT reports ready for submission to HMRC.

The Ftax VAT package allows you to use your own VAT calculations made on your own spreadsheets. A .csv file, which can be created using any spreadsheet package,  enables this data to be transferred to the Ftax VAT pdf form according with the principles of MTD. From there the VAT return is submitted to HMRC.

The Ftax VAT pdf form is in reality a cut-down version of the Ftax Cashbook pdf form, with the four cashbook pages disabled (Incomes, Expenses, Customers, and Suppliers).

There appears to be a problem with the latest versions of Acrobat Reader 2021.001.20135 and 2021.001.20138 which causes Ftax forms to run slowly at times, or not to respond.
If you install a previous version of Acrobat Reader, this problem will be overcome.

To install a previous version (Windows users):

First, uninstall your current version of Acrobat Reader.

1. Click the start menu and right click Acrobat Reader DC.

2. From the menu that pops up, select Uninstall to access the Programs and Features control panel.

3. Select Adobe Acrobat Reader DC from the list of programs and click Uninstall from the top to start the uninstall process.

4. Follow the windows prompts until the software uninstalls.

Second, Download and install a previous version of Acrobat Reader from Adobe.

1. Open a Windows Explorer/File Explorer window (press Win+E).

2. Click to select the Address bar.
If the Address bar isn’t visible in Windows XP, choose View > Address Bar

3. In the address bar type the address of Adobe’s software storage:

ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/

for windows, or 

ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/mac/

for mac, and press enter.

Note: This is a Windows Explorer/File Explorer window not a browser window.

4. You should be presented with a file structure of previous versions of Reader.

We have identified that the problem does not occur if you use AcrobatDC 2001320064.

If you wish to download and install this version, open the ReaderDC folder, then open the 2001320064 folder and copy the file AcroRdrDC2001320064_en_US.exe to your computer by dragging it onto your desktop (or other location). This is the english language version, other versions are available.

5. Once the file is downloaded onto your computer, double click the file to start the installation, and follow the Adobe prompts.

Don’t forget, you will need to follow the setup checklist again with your new software:

What should I check before using Ftax? (Ftax Setup Checklist)

If Acrobat Reader updates to the latest version and Adobe have not fixed this problem, you will need to follow this process again.

If you have any problems uninstalling Acrobat Reader, Adobe have produced a tool called AcroCleaner to help:
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html

You can check the availability of HMRC’s Making Tax Digital VAT platform using the link below:

https://api-platform-status.production.tax.service.gov.uk/