5 Simple Steps to Get MTD-Ready

Making Tax Digital is rapidly approaching.

We talk to Alistair Hayward-Wright, Director of chartered accountancy firm, Hayward Wright, on 5 steps to get your clients ready for the new legislation.

 For Alistair, he started getting ready for the new legislation between June and July 2018. “We first focused on segmenting our clients, then spent another three months driving that message home.”

Yet, the work continues as the firm adds new clients. “When we get new clients through the door, they want to know more about Making Tax Digital and how they can get compliant. I believe this will go on for at least another twelve months,” says Alistair.

PROJECT MANAGE THE MOVE

Before Hayward Wright began messaging clients, they first identified who needed to move to a new system. They then segregated this list into those:

• Already using MTD-compliant software
• Using desktop software
• On spreadsheets
• Using manual records

To scale communications, Alistair recommends creating standardised email templates. You can then drag and drop in your client logos to keep your messaging personal. “We’re getting clients set up in a matter of hours now,” says Alistair.

Crucially, email your clients even if they’re already using MTD-compliant software. “Otherwise, they may hear about the new legislation down the pub and worry about what it means for them. Clients want comfort, and messaging them beforehand will help build trust.”

If you have clients that are very resistant to using new technology, Alistair suggests arranging more in-depth conversations around the upcoming changes. “We talked a little about the bridging software available to them. We hope that with our more tech-resistant clients, they can use this for the next 12 months to give us some breathing space. It’s a temporary solution.”

When messaging, it is key to set a tone of urgency to encourage action. Plus, if you have a team, divide clients between client managers and offer them support and guidance.

If you are just starting out or have welcomed a new set of clients, Alistair advises to focus on the segmentation, skip the seminars and dive straight into one-to-one sessions. In these sessions, show your clients how to use technology like cloud-based accounting software and Receipt Bank.

“We didn’t really talk about MTD. It was the catalyst for talking to our clients,” says Alistair.

Ultimately, you can use this as an opportunity to move your clients into a more efficient way of working - to make your life, as well as theirs, easier and more productive.

Before Receipt Bank, we spent 1½ - 2 days per quarter on creating VAT return for one of our clients. Now, that’s down to 4 hours

USE TECHNOLOGY TO DO THE HEAVY-LIFTING

With the introduction of MTD, you will need to create quarterly VAT returns. To avoid stretching the workload of your end-of-year accounts four times a year, you must digitise processes to save time and money.

No matter where you are on the journey towards compliance, time-saving technology is available to support you through the move. The key? Scalability, and positivity. Approach the legislation as an opportunity to build closer relationships with your clients, and introduce technology that adds even more value to your client experience.

Hear Alistair explore five simple steps to get MTD-ready in his upcoming webinar here.