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Error - 'Unable to submit your VAT Return to HMRC. Invalid request.' when submitting VAT return

Updated this week

Check that the values and formatting are valid for submission to HMRC:

  • Box 1 + Box 2 must = Box 3.

  • Take the figures in boxes 3 and 4. Box 5 should be the figure for Box 3 minus Box 4.

Please note - If box 5 is negative, HMRC have designed the system as such so that the submitter does not need to state box 5 as negative, and instead you would have to leave the figure as positive.

  • Boxes 6, 7, 8 & 9 must be rounded to the nearest pound (£).

The file cannot hold any formulas, as HMRC's system will not accept this. Further to this, at the current time they only want a single worksheet within the file, with only the final 9 boxes.

Please also ensure that the values you enter into the spreadsheet are only 2 decimal places as if it is more ADT will try and convert it to 2dp but this does not always round correctly causing this error when trying to submit.

Unfortunately HMRC's new system no longer sends email confirmations or submission references, but rather provide the confirmation message on a prompted window on the application.
For your records, you would need to take a snipshot of this.

You can also review HMRC's guidelines on this -
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-fill-in-and-submit-your-vat-return-vat-notice-70012#section3

Following this, if the issue remains then you would need to liaise with HMRC.

If this does not appear to be an issue with HMRC then please raise a new case online and reference the title of this article.

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