BrightTax now supports importing final accounts directly from VT accounting software into the self-employment section of an Individual Tax Return. If you prepare your clients' accounts in VT Transaction+, VT Final Accounts, or compatible VT software, you can export an SNF file and import the figures into BrightTax in a single step — removing the need to re-key financial data between your accounts and tax software.

An SNF file is a standard format for transferring final accounts data between accounting and tax software. VT Transaction+ and VT Final Accounts can export your accounts figures — turnover, expenses, and profit — as an SNF file, which BrightTax can then read and apply directly to the self-employment section of the tax return.

• Your client's Individual Tax Return must already exist in BrightTax — create it first if it does not.
• The self-employment section (SA103) must be included on the return — add it via the Summary tab if not already present.
• You will need the SNF file exported from VT — see Step 1 below.
• SNF import is supported for sole trader self-employment data. Partnership accounts import (SA800TP) will be available in a future update.

Step 1 — Export the SNF File from VT

1. Open your client's accounts in VT Transaction+, VT Final Accounts, or your compatible VT software.
2. Go to File > Export and select SNF file as the export format.
3. Save the SNF file to a location you can easily access — your desktop or a client folder.

Step 2 — Open the Self-Employment Section in BrightTax

1. Open the Individual Tax Return task in BrightTax for the relevant client.
2. Switch to Edit mode using the toggle in the bottom-left corner.
3. Navigate to the Self-Employment (SA103) section — go to the Summary tab and click on Self-Employment under What Makes Up the Tax Return.

Step 3 — Import the SNF File

1. Within the SA103 self-employment section, click Import SNF File.
2. Browse to the location of the SNF file you exported from VT.
3. Select the file and click Upload.

Step 4 — Review the Import Preview

1. BrightTax will display a preview of the data contained in the SNF file before applying it to the return.
2. Review the figures — turnover, expenses, and profit — against your VT accounts to confirm they are correct.
3. If BrightTax detects any potential conflicts with data already entered on the return, a warning will be displayed at this stage. Review the conflict before proceeding.

Step 5 — Confirm and Apply

1. Once you are satisfied the data is correct, click Confirm and Apply.
2. The figures from the SNF file will populate the SA103 self-employment section automatically.
3. Continue with the remainder of the tax return as normal — Check and Calculate, then Submit to HMRC.

If figures have already been entered in the SA103 section and the imported SNF data differs from them, BrightTax will display an automatic conflict warning during the preview step. This is designed to prevent accidental overwriting of data you have already entered manually.

When a conflict warning appears:

• Review the existing figures versus the imported figures side by side.
• Confirm which set of figures is correct.
• Proceed with the import to overwrite the existing figures, or cancel to retain them.

The SNF import feature is compatible with the following VT products:

• VT Transaction+
• VT Final Accounts
• Other VT-compatible accounting software that exports standard SNF files

The Import SNF File button is not appearing

• Check that the SA103 self-employment section has been added to the return. Go to Summary > What Makes Up the Tax Return and tick Self-Employment if it is not already included.
• Check that you are in Edit mode — the import option is not available in read-only mode.

The SNF file is not being accepted

• Confirm the file was exported in SNF format from VT — not as a PDF, CSV, or other format.
• Check that the SNF file is for the correct tax year — 2025/26 or 2026/27. SNF files from prior tax years are not currently supported.

The imported figures do not match my VT accounts

• Compare the SNF file data in the preview against the accounts in VT before confirming the import.
• If figures are missing or appear incorrect, cancel the import, re-export the SNF file from VT, and try again.
• If the issue persists, contact BrightTax support via the help widget in BrightTax.

Q: I used SNF import in BTC Software — is it the same in BrightTax?

A: Yes. The process is identical. If you are familiar with SNF import from BTC Software, you will find BrightTax works in exactly the same way.

Q: Can I import SNF files for multiple self-employment sources on the same return?

A: If a client has more than one self-employment business, each SA103 schedule is separate. Import the relevant SNF file into each SA103 schedule individually.

Q: What happens to figures I have already entered manually if I import an SNF file?

A: If there are existing figures in the SA103 section, BrightTax will display a conflict warning before applying the import. You can choose to overwrite the existing figures or cancel the import.

Q: Is SNF import available for partnership returns?

A: Not yet. SNF import currently supports sole trader self-employment (SA103) only. Partnership SNF import (SA800TP) will be available in a future update.

Q: Which VT products are compatible?

A: VT Transaction+, VT Final Accounts, and other VT-compatible software that exports standard SNF files are all compatible with BrightTax SNF import.