Connect each business to HMRC once, enter the National Insurance number in MTD ITSA Setup, and BrightBooks fills in the MTD Tax ID, start date and accounting method from HMRC.

Before you start

• The taxpayer is signed up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
• Agents: you have an agent services account, the client’s authorisation is in it, and you’ve submitted HMRC’s authorisation form for the client (the LSI template).
• The business was created with a UK location and the Sole Trader entity type.

Steps

1. Open BrightBooks and select the business.
2. In the left-hand toolbar, select General Ledger, then select MTD ITSA at the top of the screen.
3. A pop-up asks you to connect to HMRC. Follow HMRC’s identification steps – you’ll need two forms of ID. Agents: sign in with your agent services account. Taxpayers: use your own HMRC sign-in.
4. Grant permission. A window tells you set-up isn’t complete yet – close it.
5. Select the cog in the top-right corner to open Settings, then scroll down to MTD ITSA Setup.
6. Enter the National Insurance number. The MTD Tax ID fills in automatically.
7. Choose the Business Type (Self-Employment, UK Property (Landlord) or Foreign Property (Landlord)), the Tax Year and the Tax Quarter (standard or calendar). Select Save.
8. Business Start Date and Accounting Methods fill in from HMRC. Go back to General Ledger → MTD ITSA to see your four quarterly periods.

Change or refresh your HMRC connection

1. In Settings, under the MTD for ITSA heading, select Change HMRC Credentials for MTD ITSA. Confirm, then sign in to HMRC again.
2. This clears the saved MTD for Income Tax connection only. It doesn’t affect your MTD VAT connection.

Known errors and how to fix them

Find the message you’re seeing:

• “HMRC has indicated that the client and/or agent is not authorised”
• “No obligations found”
• “No matching resource at HMRC”
• You aren’t taken to HMRC, or HMRC keeps asking you to sign in
• HMRC asks for passport or driving licence details

“HMRC has indicated that the client and/or agent is not authorised”

What you’ll see

• An Information Message: “Business could not be downloaded. Message from HMRC: HMRC has indicated that the client and/or agent is not authorised.” – usually when you save the National Insurance number.
• The MTD Tax ID stays blank, with the banner “Please enter MTD Tax ID”.
• A message saying the client is not registered for MTD ITSA.

Why it happens

BrightBooks is connected, but HMRC doesn’t link the HMRC sign-in you used to this taxpayer. This happens when the taxpayer isn’t signed up for MTD for Income Tax, the client hasn’t authorised you as their agent, or HMRC hasn’t processed the authorisation yet.

Supporting agents also see this message if they try to view calculations or complete the final declaration.

How to fix it

1. Check the taxpayer is signed up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
2. Agents: check the client’s authorisation is in your agent services account. Existing Self Assessment authorisations may need adding – see GOV.UK: Add your client authorisations.
3. Agents: check you’ve submitted HMRC’s authorisation form for the client (the LSI template) and HMRC has processed it.
4. In Settings, under the MTD for ITSA heading, select Change HMRC Credentials for MTD ITSA. Confirm, then sign in to HMRC again. Use the HMRC sign-in that holds the authorisation.
5. In Settings (the cog, top right) → MTD ITSA Setup, check the National Insurance number matches HMRC’s record, then select Save.

Still not working? Contact us if: the message still appears after these steps, or it affects some clients but not others connected with the same sign-in.

“No obligations found”

What you’ll see

• “No obligations found” on General Ledger → MTD ITSA.

Why it happens

HMRC has no quarterly deadlines for this income source yet. This is common straight after sign-up, or when the income source isn’t on HMRC’s record.

How to fix it

1. Check the taxpayer’s sign-up is complete and the right income source (self-employment, UK property or foreign property) is on HMRC’s record.
2. Check the Business Type and Tax Year in Settings (the cog, top right) → MTD ITSA Setup match that income source.
3. In Settings, under the MTD for ITSA heading, select Change HMRC Credentials for MTD ITSA. Confirm, then sign in to HMRC again.
4. Go back to General Ledger → MTD ITSA and refresh. If the taxpayer has recently signed up, try again later.

Still not working? Contact us if: hMRC confirms the income source exists and the message continues after you reconnect.

“No matching resource at HMRC”

What you’ll see

• “No matching resource at HMRC” or “HMRC has indicated that a matching resource was not found”.

Why it happens

HMRC can’t find this self-employment or property income source for the National Insurance number.

How to fix it

1. In Settings (the cog, top right) → MTD ITSA Setup, check the National Insurance number and Business Type match HMRC’s record.
2. Check the income source is listed on HMRC’s record for the taxpayer.
3. In Settings, under the MTD for ITSA heading, select Change HMRC Credentials for MTD ITSA. Confirm, then sign in to HMRC again.
4. Try again.

Still not working? Contact us if: the details match HMRC’s record and the message continues.

You aren’t taken to HMRC, or HMRC keeps asking you to sign in

What you’ll see

• Nothing happens when you select MTD ITSA, or you’re asked to sign in to HMRC repeatedly.

Why it happens

Pop-up blockers can stop the HMRC window opening, and an old saved connection can cause repeated sign-in prompts.

How to fix it

1. Allow pop-ups for BrightBooks in your browser.
2. In Settings, under the MTD for ITSA heading, select Change HMRC Credentials for MTD ITSA. Confirm, then sign in to HMRC again.
3. Try a different browser.

Still not working? Contact us if: you still aren’t taken to HMRC.

HMRC asks for passport or driving licence details

What you’ll see

• HMRC asks for photo ID while you connect.

Why it happens

This is HMRC’s own identity check, not a BrightBooks step.

How to fix it

1. Complete HMRC’s identity check with two forms of ID.
2. If HMRC won’t accept your ID, contact HMRC.

Still need help?

Contact our support team. Send us the business name, the exact message and a screenshot.

Find out more on GOV.UK

• Sign up your client for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
• Add your client authorisations for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
• Choose agents for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax