# Shopping for software ahead of Making Tax Digital Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2019-02-26 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: MTD Compliance: Finding the Right Cloud-Based Accounting Meta Description: Discover how the MTD initiative can benefit retailers by improving financial reporting and productivity. Find the right software for your business today. URL: https://financedigest.com/shopping-software-ahead-making-tax-digitalhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/higor-torchia-1736839140226-compressed.jpg) _**Higor Torchia**, UK Country Manager at_ [_Vend_](https://www.vendhq.com/uk/) The Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative is designed to be a cost and time saving exercise both for the Exchequer and the small businesses that must comply. Almost three million businesses will be affected by MTD when it comes into effect in April 2019, and it offers a real opportunity to find a cloud-based accounting system that will help ease financial reporting as well as improve productivity when used properly. It’s for the latter reason that retailers should shop around to find the software that best works for their whole business, rather than purchase a platform purely to enable digital tax submissions. For all the hype around [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/critical-learnings-in-digital-transformation.html "Critical learnings in digital transformation "), there is now compelling evidence that online business management can help a retailer to become more competitive. For example, the right software can help to analyse consumer trends and inform more intelligent stock decisions. **Being MTD-compliant** ![Higor Torchia](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/higor-torchia-450x300-1736839140169-compressed.jpg) Higor Torchia It’s evident the UK [government is doing all it can to encourage businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-government-to-cap-energy-bills-for-businesses-bloomberg.html "UK government to cap energy bills for businesses – Bloomberg") to think ‘digital-first’. Tax is a key area of this, not least because the Exchequer has said inaccuracies in submissions cost the [economy almost](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-economy-almost-flat-lined-in-october-adding-to-rate-hike-doubts.html "UK economy almost flat-lined in October, adding to rate hike doubts") £9 billion per year. It’s hoped automation may solve many of the issues currently experienced. Retailers have to get on board, and VAT-registered businesses with a turnover of more than £85,000 will have to submit quarterly [reports with more detail](https://www.financedigest.com/chromoendoscopy-agents-market-2031-report-details-the-future-development-manufacturers-trends-share-size-and-forecast.html "Chromoendoscopy Agents Market 2031 Report Details the Future Development, Manufacturers, Trends, Share, Size and Forecast") than that included in a VAT Return from 1 April 2019. MTD will render filing receipts in drawers or storing records in a shoe box under the till meaningless, as the [government will no longer accept](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-trial-lawyers-to-end-strike-after-accepting-government-pay-offer.html "UK trial lawyers to end strike after accepting government pay offer") paper records when it comes to tax and VAT submissions. Against this backdrop, MTD-compliant software will allow small and medium-sized retailers to keep a digital record of all transactions and will store [sale prices](https://www.financedigest.com/kraft-heinz-plans-more-price-hikes-as-sales-earnings-beat-estimates.html "Kraft Heinz plans more price hikes as sales, earnings beat estimates"), costs and taxes. **The purchase decision** As ever, when the government asks businesses to [change the way](https://www.financedigest.com/three-ways-that-2022-is-going-to-change-how-you-think-about-money.html "Three ways that 2022 is going to change how you think about money") they operate, it can mean additional work and research to ensure everything, including the benefits, have been understood. For independent [retailers preparing their businesses ahead](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-retailers-report-record-food-inflation-but-see-falls-ahead.html "UK retailers report record food inflation but see falls ahead") of the deadline, there are three tips before making a decision: 1. **Talk to your accountant.** Getting professional advice is crucial, as it’s their job to help with any questions and to lay the best options for you on the table. Get in touch with your accountant or bookkeeper for more information on MTD and what it [means for your business](https://www.financedigest.com/carbon-zero-what-it-means-for-business-owners.html "Carbon Zero: What it Means for Business Owners"). 2. **Look for a certified accounting system**. Make sure that the [existing accounting system](https://www.financedigest.com/computerized-physician-order-entry-cpoe-systems-market-to-generate-profitable-avenues-for-existing-companies-as-well-as-new-players.html "Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) Systems Market to Generate Profitable Avenues for Existing Companies as Well as New Players") used, or any new one purchased, will be certified under MTD. If it’s not, start researching other options. If you find one that is able to integrate seamlessly with your ePOS then the [business will be able to benefit from other productivity](https://www.financedigest.com/fortified-dairy-products-market-outlook-cover-new-business-strategy-with-upcoming-opportunity-2022-to-2032.html "Fortified Dairy Products Market Outlook Cover New Business Strategy with Upcoming Opportunity 2022 to 2032") benefits of going digital. 3. [**Research cloud ePOS systems**](https://www.financedigest.com/emission-control-systems-market-to-increase-at-a-cagr-of-5-through-2021-to-2031-persistence-market-research.html "Emission Control Systems Market To Increase At A CAGR Of 5% Through 2021 to 2031: Persistence Market Research"). Start looking immediately if the [business is not currently](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-overcome-the-current-challenges-facing-your-fintech-business.html "How to overcome the current challenges facing your fintech business") using one. Take trials to make sure the [software is a good fit for the business and if you do already have an ePOS then look into integrating it with your accounting](https://www.financedigest.com/is-your-accounting-software-holding-you-hostage.html "Is your accounting software holding you hostage?") system as soon as possible. **Vend and Xero: the perfect** [digital partnership](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-com-releases-the-partnership-economy-a-new-book-that-guides-businesses-to-success-in-a-digital-world.html "impact.com releases The Partnership Economy, a new book that guides businesses to success in a digital world") Vend allows [retailers to run their entire sales](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-retail-sales-jump-unexpectedly-but-big-picture-bleak-2.html "UK retail sales jump unexpectedly, but big picture bleak") operation digitally and it pushes information about transactions, stock orders and cost of goods sold (COGS) on a daily basis to its partner accounting platform, Xero. Xero is MTD compatible software, meaning a retailer will be able to file their VAT returns online, while Vend is the British [Independent](https://www.financedigest.com/advice-for-retailers-as-covid-restrictions-ease-this-independent-retailer-month.html "Advice for retailers as COVID restrictions ease this Independent Retailer Month") Retailers Association’s preferred retail ePOS. More importantly Vend and Xero are integrated platforms meaning information is transferred seamlessly so no double entry is required, which saves [customers valuable](https://www.financedigest.com/covid-19-has-made-your-customer-accounts-more-valuable.html "Covid-19 has made your customer accounts more valuable") time. Now is the [time to go digital](https://www.financedigest.com/why-the-time-is-right-for-finance-to-embrace-digital-change.html "Why the time is right for finance to embrace digital change"). With the MTD deadline in just a few months’ time, retailers should consider how ePOS and accounting [systems could integrate and power](https://www.financedigest.com/telecom-tower-power-system-market-is-expected-to-reach-us6-7-bn-by-2031.html "Telecom Tower Power System Market is expected to reach US.7 Bn by 2031.") more productive, more profitable digital-first businesses. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---