LIVE TEST for E-filing to the HMRC
The following tells you about the purpose of Live Testing and the steps involved.
a. LIVE TEST submits your data to the HMRC's Test Server as if it was a LIVE Submission on A-Day. It gives you confidence and knowledge on how e-filing works.
b. HMRC Quality Standard Data Checker.
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Live Test Server mirrors the HMRC server when validating your data and is capable of pin-pointing any data you submitted which is not in compliance with the HMRC's Quality Standard. Do use our FREE test service to check your data in advance of live e-filing.
c. Test Each Return.
The RTI FPS, EAS, EPS, NVR, PAYE P14, P35, CIS300 Monthly Return, CIS Subcontractor tax status Verification submission and other e-filing test processes are all the same. However, we do recommend you test each one because the HMRC Qualify Standard requirements are varied.
d. Test Credentials:
The only difference between the LIVE TEST and the LIVE SUBMISSION is the user credential. In Live Test you can use your company's live data and our HMRC authorised software Developer ID if you are a HMRC authorised developer. If you are not an HMRC authorised developer, you must apply for a Developer ID. If you have a HMRC Developer ID, you will be able to share our HMRC authorised software Developer ID. Similarly, you may use our Agent ID although you already have your own e-filing User ID. Once you have got your ID you can instantly act like any authorised software developer and conduct Live Simulation Tests to the HMRC server. In Live Submission you can use either your own HMRC issued ID or our Agent ID.
e. The following are the steps involved to carry out a LIVE TEST:
Step 1 : Sign Up and Create an Account:
On our Live Test site click on Sign Up to create an account, without this you cannot do the live test. A Live Test Account is purely for testing and is not for Live submissions on A-Day.
Step 2 : Download the Given Spreadsheets.
We recommend your initial tests are conducted using the spreadsheets populated with data from us. Once you know what it is all about you can then download the empty spreadsheet and populate it with data from your system.
Step 3 : Save the XLS spreadsheet as a .CSV file.
You need to save the spreadsheet, which contains either data from us or your own data, as a CSV file. Our servers accept only CSV files for security reasons.
Step 4: Sign In:
After the data has been prepared and is saved in a CSV file you need to sign in (log on) to our server to upload the CSV file.
Step 5 : Upload the CSV file
After signing in to the system please click on Upload in the top menu and upload the files. CIS300 Monthly Returns and CIS Verifications both have 2 files to upload. You may wish to include an identifying reference for the files you are about to upload. Please do not click any button or do any other task while the files are being uploaded. The process takes around 3 minutes.
Step 6 : Checking and Approving Uploaded Files.
Once the uploading is completed there are 2 possibilities:
One, if the data contains no errors, you can view the uploaded data and make your final approval of the files.
Two, if your data contains errors, you will need to print the error report, go back and rectify the errors and upload the files again.
Step 7 : E-file the Files.
Simply click on E-file Now and we will do the rest to send your data to the HMRC. For test e-filing you can use our HMRC authorised software developer credentials if you have a HMRC authorised Developer ID. Our ID is at the default setting referred to as an "Agent ID".
Step 8 : E-filing Status and Print the Certificate.
Click on Status to check the status of the e-filing and the respective View/Print button to print your certificate and IR mark etc.
Step 9 : View / Print reports
We provide a range of useful reports.
- Consolidated Reports: this shows which companies you have and what they e-filed.
- Individual Reports: this allows you to drill down to see the e-filing details of each company.
- Search and Report: this allows you to search for the e-filed results or tax status of individual subcontractors or employees.