Once an Individual Tax Return has been completed and checked, you can submit it directly to HMRC from within BrightTax. This article covers the full submission process, including pre-submission checks, the submission steps, amended submissions, and common submission errors.

• Run Check and Calculate and resolve all errors before submitting.
• Confirm you have the client's authority to file — the declaration at the point of submission confirms this.
• Check that your HMRC filing credentials are configured in System Settings > Account Information > HMRC Filing Details.
• Ensure the client's UTR number is recorded on their client record.

1. Open the ITR and confirm it is in Edit mode.
2. Run Check and Calculate from the bottom toolbar. Resolve any errors or warnings before proceeding.
3. Review the SA110 tax calculation to confirm the liability is as expected.
4. Optional — click Send for Approval to send the return to the client for review before submission.
5. Click Submit to HMRC from the bottom toolbar.
6. The submission window opens. Review the summary details.
7. Tick the confirmation box: I confirm I have authority from my client to submit this return.
8. Click Submit.
9. BrightTax will transmit the return to HMRC. A confirmation message will appear with the HMRC submission reference.
10. The submission is recorded in the Submission History tab.

If your practice requires client sign-off before submission, use the Send for Approval option from the bottom toolbar. This sends the client a notification to review the return. Once approved, you can proceed to submission. The return status will update to reflect the approval.

If a return has already been submitted and needs to be corrected, BrightTax supports amended submissions directly to HMRC:

1. Make the required corrections to the return.
2. Re-run Check and Calculate.
3. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) on the bottom toolbar.
4. Select Submit Amended.
5. Confirm authority and click Submit.

The Submit to HMRC button is not appearing

• Confirm your HMRC filing credentials are entered in System Settings > Account Information > HMRC Filing Details.
• Check that the return has been through Check and Calculate with no outstanding errors.
• Ensure you are in Edit mode — the submit button is not available in read-only mode.

HMRC is rejecting the submission

• Review the rejection reason shown in the submission response — HMRC provides a specific error code and description.
• Common causes: incorrect UTR, mismatched personal details, or a validation error in a specific box.
• Correct the issue identified, re-run Check and Calculate, and resubmit.

The return was submitted but I cannot see a confirmation

• Check the Submission History tab — all submissions are logged there regardless of whether the confirmation screen was seen.
• If the Submission History shows no record, the submission may not have completed. Try submitting again.

PDF attachment error on submission

• HMRC only accepts PDF attachments in Acrobat 5 format (PDF 1.4). If you receive a PDF compatibility error, see the related article on PDF Attachment Errors for conversion instructions.

Q: Can I submit a return without the client's approval?

A: Yes — the Send for Approval step is optional. You can submit directly after Check and Calculate if your practice does not require formal client sign-off.

Q: How do I know the submission was successful?

A: A confirmation message is shown immediately after submission, and the submission is recorded in the Submission History tab with a status of Submitted and an HMRC reference number.

Q: Can I resubmit a return that has already been submitted?

A: Yes. Use Submit Amended from the three-dot menu to file a corrected version. This replaces the original submission with the amended return.