If your printed Personal Tax Returns (PTRs) or Accounts Production / Corporation Tax (APCT) documents are showing a 'NOT FOR SUBMISSION' watermark, this is expected behaviour when your organisation is on a BrightTax Trial subscription.

This watermark is not a product fault. It is applied automatically to all prints produced during the trial period to indicate that the output is for review or testing purposes only and should not be filed with HMRC or Companies House.

The 'NOT FOR SUBMISSION' watermark appears on:

• Personal Tax Return (PTR) prints
• Accounts Production prints
• Corporation Tax (APCT) prints

The watermark does not affect the underlying data in BrightTax. Your returns and accounts are being calculated correctly — the watermark is only a print indicator.

The watermark is removed automatically when your organisation upgrades from a Trial subscription to a paid BrightTax subscription. Once your subscription is active:

1. Your trial subscription will be converted to a paid subscription.
2. The 'NOT FOR SUBMISSION' watermark will no longer appear on any prints.
3. You can then produce and submit returns and accounts as normal.

To upgrade your subscription, contact the Bright sales team:

• Email: brighttaxsales@brightsg.com
• Or speak to your account manager if you have one assigned.

If you believe your subscription has been upgraded but the watermark is still appearing, try the following:

1. Log out of BrightTax and log back in to refresh your session.
2. Navigate to System Settings (the cog icon in the top right corner) and check your subscription status under Account Information.
3. If the subscription status shows as Trial despite having upgraded, contact support — your subscription update may not have been applied correctly.

1. Click the cog icon in the top right corner of BrightTax to open System Settings.
2. Navigate to Account Information.
3. Your current subscription type and expiry date will be displayed here.
4. If the subscription shows as Trial and you believe it should be paid, contact support or your account manager.

Q: Does the watermark mean my return has been calculated incorrectly?

A: No. The watermark is purely a print indicator applied during the trial period. It has no effect on the data, calculations, or figures within BrightTax. Your returns are being prepared correctly.

Q: Can I remove the watermark without upgrading my subscription?

A: No. The watermark is tied to the trial subscription status and cannot be removed manually. It is removed automatically on upgrade to a paid subscription.

Q: Will the watermark appear on electronic HMRC submissions?

A: No. The watermark only affects printed documents. Electronic submissions to HMRC or Companies House via BrightTax are not affected by the trial watermark — however, please note that submitting live returns during a trial period may not be permitted depending on your subscription terms. Check with your account manager if you are unsure.

Q: I am on a paid subscription but a new user in my organisation is seeing the watermark — why?

A: Check that the new user's account is correctly associated with your organisation's paid subscription in BrightHub. Users added after the subscription was activated may need their access level confirmed. See Managing Users in BrightHub for guidance.

Q: How long does a BrightTax trial last?

A: Trial duration is set at the time of account creation. Check your subscription details in System Settings > Account Information or contact your account manager for the specific terms of your trial.