GST Web preparation and filing
Agents who are linked to IRD’s online service will be able to lodge GST returns via the webpage we have implemented in order to provide access to the IRD Gateway services.
If you are already cloud enabled, eg for Practice Management timesheets, AIM returns or TDS Transactional data, then there is no further configuration required to use GST web returns. If you are not currently cloud-enabled take a look at our Cloud services setup guide
Web GST
GST Returns are now lodged via Gateway services. IRD ended E-File lodgement as of April 2021. A GST Returns webpage allows GST returns to be entered directly into the webpage. The GST desktop app still provides the ability to view these returns and track status and run reports as before but, creation and lodging is all done via the web page. Once lodged, the return information submitted is also refreshed back to the desktop GST return entry.
Accessing the GST Webpage
A Web Returns page has been added to the existing GST Returns console to access the GST webpage.
Go to the GST Returns Console.
Select the Web Returns.
The Web Returns page will display showing just the Tax years, even if GST returns have previously been created from the desktop app.
Viewing a Web Return
To launch a new return
Go to GST Returns, Web Returns.
Double click the Tax Year required.
This will launch into the webpage view.
If this is the first time it has been launched, there may be some updating of settings required as seen below:
You’ll need to ensure all required fields are completed before the GST section is made visible.
Using Web GST Returns
Retrieve GST filing obligations that your client has from this page.
Click the Retrieve GST Filing obligations button.
When doing so you will be asked to log into IRD using your tax agent login details.
Any obligations will be listed below and are clickable to launch into the GST return itself.
If none are shown, navigate to the GST returns page
Create a GST Return
Click GST Returns.
Initially, if no obligations are found and no returns have yet been submitted, the screen will look like this:
Note: The return frequency is determined by the Balance month setting in the Client console, Details. If your client has had GST returns submitted previously, this should already be correctly set, but for new clients you may need to update this field. This determines which months are available and shown in the top bar above the return in the web view.
Click onto the month required or, if filing obligations are found, clicking each one will launch the corresponding form.
This will simultaneously create the empty return, as well as check for any existing lodgements held with IRD for that client and period chosen.
In this example, no previously lodged return was found, so an empty form is loaded and has the status of ‘New’.
Fill in the various key points to complete the return.
Save the return.
Status will update to Draft.
The period and status information are shown in the desktop page after refreshing the console view.
This desktop status will update following any further changes in status as the return is processed, either when the console page is opened, or by clicking Refresh button if it is still loaded.
Importing XPA Ledger data.
You can create a GST web return directly using XPA ledger data.
Click on Get XPA Values in the GST return to import data.
This function still exists currently, but will only import to a desktop GST return, to produce a Web GST return this new process needs to be followed.
This requires an updated XPA component to be copied to your Tax Application folder ADV2000. The download file is located on the Release Information page.
In XPA application, open the ledger for the client whose GST you wish to import.
Select the GST
Export to GST Return.
The Tax GST Returns selector window will appear. From here you may select the Tax Year, GST Cycle, Web GST return period and Chart mapping.
For the Web Returns selection, the next period in the sequence is available only if the previous period is lodged.
You may however have already created empty returns in web, in which case these will be shown in the dropdown menu as well.
Once the correct parameters are selected, click the Open GST Return page.
There will be a short delay while the ledger data is accessed and the web url created.
The GST return will then open in the web page, with the ledger values from the XPA ledger populated for the selected period.
From here you may make any further entries and process and lodge the GST returns via Web as described in the rest of this document.
Managing GST Returns
Within the web return page you are able to use the following features located at the bottom of the page. Prepop, Status and Retrieve processes all check automatically with IRD whenever a return is created.
Prepop
Status
Retrieve
Refresh - Refreshes the page and calculations
Prepop
Connects to IRD and uploads any related information relevant to the return.
Status
Connects to IRD and checks status of the return eg Expected, Lodged.
Retrieve
This process checks to see if a return for this period already exists with IRD. You may recheck by pressing this button.
Within the return, the tabs at the top are divided into Detail, Calculation and Summary. If you have the GST ratio as the Provisional tax calc method will also have a Provisional tab added.
Details tab
Minor form type is chosen here, but can be edited from the drop down list if changes are required. GST ratio will default as above to 103B, all others will show 101A unless edited.
Transactions
This is for reference only, it lists any TDS transactions received from IRD for the filing period covered by the return. The same transactions are shown via the Compliance Admin pages and in the ledger for that tax year.
Documents section
This is used to generate a GST Summary report for the current return. Note that the report generated reflects the return information at that point in time. It may be previewed or printed later, but if values or return status change later, it will need to be re-generated.
Calculation
The key points for the return are shown here ready to be filled out where appropriate. Some fields like Adjustments, have options for multiple entries access via the drop down arrow. Each line can be saved and edited independently.
Provisional tab (GST Ratio only)
Summary
Contains the final key points and calculations for the rest of the return. Once completed, the Ready for Approval box can be selected to update the status.
Lodging a GST Return
When a return is shown as Ready in the status box, Rework Return and Approve Return options are available for selection.
Select either Rework to make changes to the return or Approve if the return is ready to be lodged.
If a Rework Return is chosen, the buttons are removed and the Approve button is not made available again until at least one change is made to the form. (If this is done in error you may simply click any field and tab off to re-activate the Approve button). This function is intended to allow an administrator to check the return before finalsing. Corrections can be made if necessary and progress can be tracked.
If Approve return is chosen, the status is again updated, and this time a new section Ready to Lodge is displayed.
You may at this point perform any final checks and if any further changes are required, click Needs Revision to return to a non-approved status of Rework.
The return will need to be approved again before the Lodge option is available again.
If the return is complete and ready, the Lodge Return with IRD button will send the entire return to IRD.
After you select this, you will be asked to login to the IRD page. Confirm your credentials, these are the same as your login to myIR, the return is submitted.
The return becomes read-only and cannot be edited. The return status section will show as below
Finally, in the desktop console view, the saved Web GST return is automatically populated back to desktop in both the normal GST page and Web GST returns pages, so that everything is kept in sync (this example shows Approved/Ready to Lodge status but this applies to all Status).
Installation Download
To install, copy the below hotfix files to Adv2000.