Uploading the template

There are two ways of uploading your AlphaBridge template to the MTD Compliance Portal.  The most commonly used one, is to select the Post to AlphaBridge portal option that resides in the template itself, under the guidance section. 

However, some customers have experienced difficulties using this upload option due to their internal IT security policies or because they are using a version of Excel that is not supported. This option also does not work for Mac users. In these instances, you should use the Upload Excel file option in the MTD Compliance Portal. If you continue to experience difficulties, please contact our Customer support team.

Using the Post to AlphaBridge portal option

Before you upload your AlphaBridge template, ensure that you have reviewed the data and saved a copy of it.  

You do not need to upload the template immediately, you can save and close the template and re-open it at a later time, when you are ready to upload it.

1. To upload your populated template, click on the Post to AlphaBridge portal button that appears in the Guidance section of the template.

2. You will then return to the AlphaBridge portal, which will open in a new tab on your default browser and display the VAT Returns tab, which provides a summary of your entity's VAT Return.

Note:  If you have downloaded, populated and uploaded your template in sequence, you will have AlphaBridge running in two browser windows.  You can now close the browser window that you had originally opened AlphaBridge in, when downloading your template.

Using the Upload Excel file option

If you are a Mac user or you are experiencing difficulties using the Post to AlphaBridge portal option that resides in the AlphaBridge template (under the guidance section), you should use the Upload Excel file option instead.

1. Once you have prepared your AlphaBridge template and digitally linked the 9 boxes to their corresponding values in your VAT Return summary, Save the AlphaBridge template to your local drive.

2. You will not need to assign the named cell titles to the AlphaBridge template since these are already included in the template when you download it.

3. Log into the MTD Compliance Portal. Locate and select the entity that you wish to upload your AlphaBridge template to.

4. On the VAT Returns tab, select the obligation and then select the AlphaBridge Upload Excel file option.

5. Locate and select your prepared AlphaBridge template, then click Open.

6. Your file will now be uploaded and you will see a summary of your VAT Return that you can review and finalise, before submitting it to HMRC.

For more information on how to use the Upload Excel file feature, please refer to the Uploading an Excel file section.