Skip to main content

Get 50% OFF QuickBooks for 3 months*

Buy now
Switch to QuickBooks and 70% off for 3 Months
January 1, 2026
Question

I've been doing my vat return through Quickbooks for about 2 years already and now I'm getting the following error message: "We can’t connect to HMRC right now" . Why?!

  • January 1, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 3 views

I presume it's something to do with needing to give my authorisation for HMRC to deal with Quickbooks perhaps? But why the sudden change? When I click on the link that appears it's an HMRC page for accountants to sign up their clients, which isn't my case. I'm a sole trader. I'm just going round in circles with this... Any help is appreciated - thanks!

1 reply

QuickBooks Team
January 1, 2026

Hi there, Jamie. I appreciate your patronage towards our product.

 

The "We can't connect to HMRC right now" issue occurs when QuickBooks is no longer actively connected to HMRC. Know that authorization is required to be renewed every 18 months to protect your personal and financial data. That’s why you’re now being prompted with the error, even though you’ve successfully submitted VAT returns for the past two years.

 

 To resolve the issue, please follow these steps to reconnect:

1. Navigate to Taxes in your QBO account.
2. In the VAT page, click the Edit VAT dropdown and select Edit Settings.
3. Under Digital VAT submission, toggle MTD off.
4. Reconnect QuickBooks to HMRC using your correct MTD credentials.


If you’re redirected to an accountant’s page during reauthorization, make sure to select the option for sole traders. Once completed, QuickBooks will reconnect to HMRC and enables you to submit your VAT returns as usual.

Let me know if  you have additional inquiries.