You've signed in to your HMRC business tax account, opened the VAT section, and there's no button to file your return. You're not doing anything wrong. HMRC removed it.
This guide explains what changed, what your HMRC login is still for, and how to get your return filed — today, if your deadline is close.
Why there's no VAT return form in your HMRC account
Under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT, every VAT-registered business must keep digital records and send returns through MTD-compatible software. HMRC closed its old online VAT return form for businesses that follow MTD in November 2023.
So the place you used to type in your nine boxes no longer exists. Returns now go from software straight to HMRC through HMRC's systems.
The only exception is businesses HMRC has exempted from MTD — usually because of age, disability, remoteness or religious beliefs. If HMRC has confirmed you're exempt, it will tell you how to file instead.
What your HMRC login is still for
Your Government Gateway login hasn't become useless. In your business tax account you can still:
- See your VAT deadlines and which periods are open
- View returns you've already submitted
- Check what you owe and payments HMRC has received
- Set up a Direct Debit for VAT payments
- Find your VRN and view your VAT certificate
- Update your business details, such as your address or bank account for repayments
And it has one new job: authorising your software.
How your HMRC login connects to MTD software
When you first file with MTD software, it sends you to an HMRC sign-in page — a real HMRC page, not the software's. You sign in with the business's Government Gateway user ID and password, and grant authority for the software to send VAT returns on your behalf.
- You do this once. The authority lasts 18 months, then you sign in again to renew it.
- Your password stays with HMRC. The software never sees it.
- After that, filing is a few clicks inside the software.
How to file your VAT return now
If your deadline is close and your figures are ready:
- Choose MTD-compatible software. If your figures are in a spreadsheet, bridging software is the fastest route — no migration and no subscription.
- Connect to HMRC using your Government Gateway login (the one-off step above).
- Pick the open period — the software reads it from HMRC.
- Enter or upload your nine boxes, check them and submit.
- Keep the receipt HMRC sends back.
For the full walk-through, including what goes in each box, see how to submit a VAT return to HMRC.
Common HMRC sign-in problems
"I've forgotten my Government Gateway user ID or password." Use the recovery links on HMRC's sign-in page. To recover a user ID you'll usually need the email address on the account.
"My VAT isn't showing in my account." You may be signed in to your personal tax account rather than the business one, or using a different Government Gateway user ID from the one VAT was registered under. Check which ID you used when you registered for VAT.
"I can't get the security code." The code goes to the phone number or authenticator app set up for 2-step verification. If you've changed phone, you'll need to update your details or contact HMRC.
"My accountant files for me — should I sign in?" No. Accountants use their own agent services account and their own software, once you've authorised them as your agent. You don't need to give them your login.
"My software says the authority has expired." The 18-month authority has run out. Reconnect to HMRC from inside your software and sign in again — your data isn't affected.
Need to file today?
AccLedger's VAT bridging software runs in your browser. Connect your HMRC login, enter your nine boxes or upload them from our Excel template, and submit for £4.99 + VAT per return — no subscription, nothing to install.
If you'd rather have your VAT return calculated for you each quarter, AccLedger's MTD VAT software builds it from your invoices, bills and bank feed. Start a 30-day free trial — no credit card needed, and you can file your VAT returns during the trial.
Running late? Check the VAT submission deadlines and what a late VAT return costs in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still submit a VAT return through my HMRC account? No, unless HMRC has exempted you from MTD. Every other business files through MTD-compatible software.
Is MTD software safe to connect to my HMRC account? Yes, if it's on HMRC's list of recognised software. You sign in on HMRC's own page, and the software only gets permission to deal with your VAT — never your password.
Do I need a separate login for MTD? No. You use the same Government Gateway user ID that's linked to your VAT registration.
Can I see the returns I filed with software in my HMRC account? Yes. Returns filed through MTD software appear in your business tax account like any other.
What if I don't have a Government Gateway account? You'll need one linked to your VAT registration before you can authorise software. You can create one from HMRC's sign-in page.
This article is general guidance based on HMRC rules as of October 2026 and is not tax advice. Always use HMRC's official GOV.UK pages to sign in — never follow sign-in links from unexpected emails or texts.