Signing up comes first
Signing up for Making Tax Digital is a separate step you do on GOV.UK, once, before any software can connect. You need to be registered for Self Assessment and to have sent a return in the last 2 years. Until then HMRC refuses the connection, whichever software you use.
What each message means
- HMRC did not grant permission: the account is not signed up yet, or Cancel was pressed on the HMRC screen. Sign up, or press Connect and carry on through the HMRC screens
- The security token expired: the sign-in took too long. Have your Government Gateway details and your phone to hand, then press Connect and go straight through
- The return did not match the request: press Connect once more in a normal browser window
- HMRC refused the last step: nothing is wrong with your details or your tax record. The problem is at LetCompliance’s end and it is logged. If it happens again, send a message from Help
Somebody else’s tax record
A connection only ever reaches the tax record of the person who signs in. Sending updates for a client needs HMRC’s agent route, an Agent Services Account and the client’s authorisation, and LetCompliance has not built it.
After you connect
Add your National Insurance number so HMRC can match your updates to your record. The MTD page then reads what HMRC already holds for the tax year and shows it.
