VAT Returns
Prepare, review, and submit VAT returns from your accounting data.
The VAT Returns page lets you prepare VAT returns from your accounting data, review the figures, and submit them — including support for Making Tax Digital (MTD).
VATOverview
The page shows a list of all your VAT returns, each displayed as a card with the period covered, the key VAT boxes, and the current status. You can prepare new returns, review the breakdown, and submit or finalise them.
Preparing a VAT return
Click Prepare Return
Click the Prepare Return button at the top of the page.
Set the period
Enter the Period Start and Period End dates for the VAT quarter (or other period). These should match your VAT reporting periods.
Generate
Click Prepare. Helium calculates all nine VAT boxes from your posted journal entries for the selected period and creates a draft return.
VAT return cards
Each return is shown as a card displaying:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Period | The start and end dates of the return |
| Status | Draft, Review, Submitted, Accepted, Rejected, or Filed |
| Box 1 — Output VAT | VAT charged on your sales |
| Box 4 — Input VAT | VAT you can reclaim on your purchases |
| Box 5 — Net VAT | The amount you owe HMRC (or are owed), shown in red ("to pay") or green ("to reclaim") |
| Box 6 — Sales | Total value of sales excluding VAT |
| Box 7 — Purchases | Total value of purchases excluding VAT |
Viewing the full breakdown
Click the Detail button (eye icon) on a return card to see all nine boxes:
| Box | Description |
|---|---|
| Box 1 | VAT due on sales and other outputs |
| Box 2 | VAT due on acquisitions from other EU/NI member states |
| Box 3 | Total VAT due (Box 1 + Box 2) |
| Box 4 | VAT reclaimed on purchases and other inputs |
| Box 5 | Net VAT to pay or reclaim (Box 3 − Box 4) |
| Box 6 | Total value of sales excluding VAT |
| Box 7 | Total value of purchases excluding VAT |
| Box 8 | Total value of supplies of goods to EU/NI member states |
| Box 9 | Total value of acquisitions of goods from EU/NI member states |
Return statuses
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Draft | The return has been prepared and can be edited or adjusted before submission |
| Review | The return is under review |
| Submitted | The return has been submitted to HMRC |
| Accepted | HMRC has accepted the return |
| Rejected | HMRC has rejected the return — check the reason and resubmit |
| Filed | The return has been finalised and filed in your records |
Submitting a return
Once you have reviewed the figures and are satisfied they are correct:
- Click the Submit button (send icon) on the return card
- The status changes to "Submitted"
If Making Tax Digital is enabled, the submission is sent electronically to HMRC. Otherwise, you can use the figures to complete your VAT return through HMRC's website.
Finalising a return
After a return has been submitted and accepted, click the Finalise button (lock icon) to lock it. Finalising:
- Creates a journal entry recording the VAT liability or refund
- Prevents further changes to the return
- Changes the status to "Filed"
Check before submitting
Once a return is submitted, it cannot be edited. Review all nine boxes carefully and compare them against your records before submitting.
Making Tax Digital (MTD)
If your organisation is registered for Making Tax Digital, you can enable MTD in Accounting → Settings. With MTD enabled:
- VAT returns are submitted electronically to HMRC directly from Helium
- An "MTD" badge appears on the Accounting dashboard
- HMRC obligations and deadlines are visible in the system
MTD setup
To use MTD, you need to authorise Helium to communicate with HMRC on your behalf. This is configured in Accounting Settings. Contact your accountant if you are unsure whether your business needs to use MTD.