📌 **Note:** Access Digital Tax runs the same calculation as Dimensions. It simply reads the data from Dimensions.
There are multiple reasons for the figures to be different:
Changes have been made in Dimensions since the last time the VAT data was refreshed in Access Digital Tax. Try clicking Refresh within Access Digital Tax.
The VAT reporting method set in Dimensions System control options may cause the variation. A different date or period range is being used within Dimensions compared to the date range sent by HMRC. If Dimensions is set to calculate VAT by dates, check that the dates entered in Dimensions match those requested by HMRC. Access Digital Tax always uses the correct dates. If Dimensions is set to calculate VAT by periods, check that the periods in Dimensions match the setup on your HMRC VAT account and that you have entered the correct period range in Dimensions.
The data you are viewing in Dimensions is for different legal entities (VAT Groups and Sub Ledgers) to those selected in Access Digital Tax.
ADT periods is a date range and picks up transactions based on invoice date (the tax date), not the period it was posted into. When tax is submitted, transactions are marked in Dimensions. Any transactions posted after submission but within the submitted period will be picked up on the next submission.
The last updated VAT return in Dimensions may not mirror what was last submitted to HMRC.
An older version of Access Connect may be in use, which has a known bug reading VAT return data. Update Access Connect if so.
Things for the user to check in addition to the above
Check that ADT has updated Dimensions on the last submission to close that period off. When ADT updates Dimensions it gives the VAT return a reference in the format ADT-DDMMYY (for example ADT-191022). If this was not written back into Dimensions on the last submission, ADT will not recognise that period as closed and may pull through both the current and previous month's figures.
Ensure the VAT return preview run in Dimensions is for the same obligation dates or periods as required in Digital Tax for submission to HMRC.
In Dimensions, confirm the last updated VAT return matches the last submission sent to HMRC. If it does not, update the VAT return in Dimensions to match.
You may need to refer to one of the below article to force-update Dimensions if Access Connect has already been setup, ensuring that the returns appropriately mirror what had been sent to HMRC.
Access Digital Tax: How to submit a VAT Return in Dimensions after installing Access Connect
Access Digital Tax: How to submit your VAT Return in Dimensions following the install of Access Connect
Dimensions: VAT Return error: 'The application was unable to insert into the table, SYS_TAX_AUDIT, successfully.'
Access Digital Tax: Submitting a VAT Return in Dimensions following the install of Access Connect
📌 **Note:** To resolve this issue, contact our support team — they will need to investigate, run scripts or liaise with the hosting or development teams. For help contacting us, see our Get support article.
If VAT is being reported by periods in Dimensions, ensure the dates of the periods are correctly in line to reflect whole months.
ADT reports by the obligation date ranges set by HMRC, and picks up transactions based on their invoice date regardless of which period they were posted into. For example, a transaction dated for October could be posted into the period for August, and so would be picked up in the VAT return covering October if it was not marked on a previous return.
Ensure transactions are coinciding with the appropriate period number for their date, as a transaction can be picked up on an earlier or later return depending on its date and the period it was posted to.
If you Dimensions database is configured to more than 2 decimal places, then the VAT figures in Access Digital Tax maybe slightly different by pennies to the figures in Dimensions. In this scenario you will need to post a journal to make up the difference between both systems.
Things for IT to check
What version is Dimensions, and what version is Access Connect?
Ensure the Access Connect Configuration Tool on the server is set up with the correct database connection details. It is recommended to use the sa user for the connection authentication.
Ensure the Access Connect Service is set to log on as a Domain Administrator with full admin permissions and rights over the network and SQL database (this is a software requirement).
📌 **Note:** To change the user running the service, stop the service first. Once the change has been saved and applied, start the service. Do not use the Restart option.
If further assistance is required, our support team will need to investigate, run scripts or liaise with the hosting or development teams. Any Issues with contacting us, please see the following Get support in Access Digital Tax.