Creating Digital Links and More Information about CSV files
English | Cymraeg | Gàidhlig | Gaeilge | login | for help email: help@vat.directThe idea behind MTD is that companies have a digital accounting system (which can be more than one computer program) and that importantly information is not retyped once it has been typed into the accounting system. Many companies find spreadsheets easy to use to keep accounting records and about a quarter of the VAT registered organisations use spreadsheets for their accounts. Cirrostratus takes data from a csv file (it means comma separated variables) which can be created by spreadsheet software (using save as). For this to work the spreadsheet has to map information to the vat return. Mapping means making it easy for the computers to work out which number goes in which box. Cirrostratus does this simply by asking for the word BOX1 or BOX2 to be in an cell on the line of the spreadsheet that has each value. The best way of doing this is to create a new worksheet in the workbook you are using. Then take the template off the VAT Return page from the Cirrostratus server and put that into the new worksheet. Then put the codes into the worksheetsheet that tell the VAT summary sheet where to find the values for the VAT return. We will help companies who are taking part in the pilot scheme to set up these digital links, but our low prices are set on the assumption that companies will normally sort this out themselves. It isn't that difficult and anyone with sufficient experience with spreadsheets will be able to do this. We have identified some organisations who are willing to assist businesses with digital links and using our interface. A list is here Example of a cross worksheet reference for open office: =$'DAYCASH'.R3210 or excel ='DAYCASH'!R3210 That would take the value in row 3210 from column R in the worksheet called "DAYCASH" and put it in the VAT summary We can, of course, take the same format CSV file from other computer systems. More details for computer to computer links The file format is designed to make it easy to convert from a spreadsheet (excel or open office) to the MTD interface. We do, however, have clients that are writing software to generate the interface file from their computers (eg iSeries, Oracle e Business etc). This is quite easy and we will give examples below.
An example of a CSV file (you can see this if you open the file in a text editor such as notepad)
,VAT RETURN TEMPLATE ,,,,,,,,,
,BOX1,VAT due in this period on sales and other outputs,,,,,,,,200
,BOX2,VAT due in this period on acquisitions from other EC Member States,,,,,,,,100
,BOX3,Total VAT due (the sum of boxes 1 and 2),,,,,,,,300
,BOX4,VAT reclaimed in this period on purchases and other inputs (including acquisitions from the EC),,,,,,,,100
,BOX5,Net VAT to be paid to Customs or reclaimed by you (Difference between boxes 3 and 4),,,,,,,,200
,BOX6,Total value of sales and all other outputs excluding any VAT. Include your box 8 figure.,,,,,,,,1000
,BOX7,Total value of purchases and all other inputs excluding any VAT. Include your box 9 figure.,,,,,,,,1000
,BOX8,Total value of all supplies of goods and related costs excluding any VAT to other EC Member States,,,,,,,,20
,BOX9,Total value of acquisitions of goods and related costs excluding any VAT from other EC Member States,,,,,,,,20
PERIODEND,31/03/2017
,VRNVERIFY,303095732
S
Each value is on a separate line
The system searches for the code BOXn (ie BOX1-BOX9) and then assumes that the appropriate value in money terms is the first number on that line.
Anything else is ignored. Its that simple.
20/10/18 - we have added a value VRNVERIFY. This the VAT number to ensure for where people are submitting returns for more than one VAT Account that the correct figures are being provided and that the Legal Entity VRN matches with the data. VRNVERIFY is, however, required for all submitted data.
All of these examples below give GBP 200 for BOX2 (which is the acquisitions from other EC member states)
,BOX2,,,,,,,,,,200
,BOX2,VAT due in this period on acquisitions from other EC Member States,,,,,,,,200
BOX2,200
200,BOX2
,BOX2,VAT due in this period on acquisitions from other EC Member States,,,,,,,,200.00