BrightTax allows you to control which return types each user can submit to HMRC or Companies House. Filing permissions are configured per user in System Settings and determine whether a user can file Self Assessment returns, Corporation Tax returns, VAT returns, and accounts to Companies House. Users without a filing permission ticked for a return type will not be able to submit that type of return.

• You must have Administrator permissions in BrightTax to access System Settings.
• The user must already exist in BrightTax System Settings before you can configure their filing permissions.

1. Click the cog icon in the top-right corner to open System Settings.
2. Go to Users from the left-hand menu.
3. Find the user and click their name or the edit icon.
4. Scroll to the Filing Permissions section of the user profile.
5. Tick the return types the user is permitted to file:
   • Self Assessment — allows the user to submit Individual Tax Returns to HMRC
   • Corporation Tax — allows the user to submit Corporation Tax returns to HMRC
   • Partnership Tax Return — allows the user to submit Partnership Tax Returns to HMRC
   • VAT — allows the user to submit VAT returns to HMRC
   • Companies House — allows the user to submit accounts to Companies House
6. Click Save.

Filing permissions control the visibility and availability of the Submit to HMRC and Submit to Companies House buttons within BrightTax:

• If a user does not have Self Assessment filing permission ticked, the Submit to HMRC button will not be available on Individual Tax Returns for that user.
• If a user does not have Corporation Tax filing permission ticked, the Submit to HMRC button will not be available on CT returns for that user.
• This applies equally to VAT, Partnership Tax Returns, and Companies House submissions.

A user cannot see the Submit to HMRC button on a return

• Check their filing permissions in System Settings > Users. The relevant return type must be ticked for the Submit button to appear.
• Also confirm the return has been through Check and Calculate with no errors — the Submit button requires a clean calculation before it becomes available.

A user has filing permissions ticked but still cannot submit

• Check that the practice's HMRC filing credentials are correctly entered in System Settings > Account Information > HMRC Filing Details.
• Confirm the client's UTR is recorded on their client record.
• Check that Check and Calculate has been run with no outstanding errors.

Q: Can I restrict a user to only filing for specific clients?

A: Not directly via filing permissions — filing permissions apply to return types, not specific clients. To restrict a user's client access, use the Client List Locked to Responsible Clients permission instead, which limits their client list to only the clients assigned to them.

Q: If I untick a filing permission for a user mid-way through a return they are working on, what happens?

A: The permission change takes effect immediately on next login. The user will no longer see the Submit button for that return type. Any work they have done on the return is not affected — it remains saved and accessible.

Q: Do filing permissions apply to amended submissions as well as original ones?

A: Yes. A user without the relevant filing permission cannot submit either original or amended returns for that return type.