| Overview |
The 'Unable to Return Obligation Data' error in BrightTax means that HMRC has not authorised your access to the client's VAT data. This is one of the most common VAT setup issues and has several possible causes, all related to the HMRC authorisation chain for MTD VAT.
| Full Checklist — Work Through These in Order |
Go through each item below in sequence. The most common cause is checked first.
| Check | What to Do If It Fails | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You have an Agent Services Account (ASA) | Register at gov.uk/guidance/get-an-hmrc-agent-services-account. This is separate from HMRC Online Services for Agents. |
| 2 | The client is linked to your ASA | In your ASA, use 'Ask a client to authorise you' to send an authorisation request to the client. |
| 3 | The client has accepted the authorisation | Ask the client to check their HMRC online account for a pending authorisation request and confirm they have accepted it. |
| 4 | The client is signed up for MTD for VAT | The client should sign up at gov.uk/register-for-making-tax-digital-for-vat if not already done. |
| 5 | The VAT number in BrightTax is correct | Open the client record in BrightTax and verify the VAT number matches exactly — 9 digits, no spaces, no GB prefix. |
| 6 | The client's authorisation has not expired | HMRC agent authorisations can expire. Re-send the authorisation request and ask the client to re-authorise. |
| ⚠ Important: The Agent Services Account (ASA) is a different system from HMRC Online Services for Agents. MTD VAT submissions require the ASA specifically. If you are using the wrong account, you will not be able to access MTD VAT obligations regardless of what else is in place. |
| For Business Clients (Non-Agent Filing) |
Where a business is filing its own VAT returns through BrightTax rather than through an agent, the following must be true:
- The business has signed up for MTD for VAT at gov.uk
- The business is using their own HMRC credentials to access BrightTax
- The VAT number in BrightTax matches the business's VAT registration exactly
| Troubleshooting |
I have checked everything above and still get the error
- Contact HMRC's MTD helpline to confirm the client's account status — HMRC can verify whether the client is correctly signed up and whether your ASA is linked.
- Try removing and re-adding the client's authorisation via your ASA — occasionally the link needs to be refreshed.
The error appears for some clients but not others
- The issue is client-specific — work through the checklist above for the affected client specifically.
- The most likely cause for one client having the issue when others do not is that their authorisation request was not completed or has expired.
| Frequently Asked Questions |
Q: How long does HMRC authorisation take to activate after the client accepts it?
A: In most cases, HMRC authorisation becomes active immediately or within a few minutes of the client accepting. If it is still not working after 30 minutes, check that the client accepted the correct authorisation request from the correct ASA.
Q: Does the client need to sign up for MTD for VAT if they are below the registration threshold?
A: Voluntary MTD for VAT registration is available for businesses below the threshold. If they are voluntarily registered, they can also voluntarily sign up for MTD. However, they are not legally required to do so if below the threshold.
Q: My client recently changed their VAT number — what do I need to do?
A: Update the VAT number on the client record in BrightTax to the new number. You will also need to re-link the client to your ASA using the new VAT number and ensure the new registration is signed up for MTD.
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