Generating and Attaching iXBRL Files to the Ftax CT600 (9:17)

We are very grateful to our clients for their comments and suggestions, without which these guides would not be possible.
If you have a suggestion to improve this guide or its associated video, please email tracey@ftax.co.uk

Generating and Attaching iXBRL files to the Ftax CT600 – Step by Step Instructions

A Company tax return is made up of the main CT600 tax return, which includes Profits and Capital Allowances worksheets, along with a number of optional supplementary sections. Computations and Accounts files and usually attached to the form before it is submitted.

Most companies and organisations are required to submit their accounts and computations in iXBRL format. The few exceptions to this can be found on the HMRC website.

The Ftax CT600 allows you to create both accounts and computations iXBRL files, attach them to your CT600 and submit them to HMRC. You may also attach iXBRL files which have been generated using a different package, for example VT Software.

This guide shows you how to generate an iXBRL file and attach it to the Ftax CT600. 

1. Generating an iXBRL Computations file

2. Generating an iXBRL Accounts file

3. Attaching iXBRL files to the Ftax CT600 form

1. Generating an iXBRL Computations file

To generate an iXBRL computations file using Ftax you must first complete the main CT600 tax return including the Profits worksheets and any relevent Capital Allowance worksheet:

 

Make sure you have entered your email address and the accounting period dates on the opening page, and the Company Number and Company Type on the first page of the tax return:

The Company Number should always be 8 digits. Add leading zeros if necessary.

 

 HMRC notes are available to help you choose the correct Company Type. You should also make sure you click the red Calculate Tax button on page 4:

 

To generate the file, go to the front page of the CT600 and click the iXBRL button at the bottom left of the page:

 

Select 'iXBRL Computations' and click 'yes' to agree with the popups:

 

After a few seconds a green success screen should appear:

 

 

Click the 'login' button on this screen, login to your Ftax Account on the Ftax website, scroll down to the 'Recent PDF Copies/iXBRL Files' section and click 'Download' to save the file in a known location:

 

 If a red Error screen is displayed then check you have entered your email address and try again:

 

If the problem persists then send in a Support Request and attach the saved CT600 to the support ticket.

It is extremely important that the iXBRL files accurately reflect the data in the CT600 form. If you change the form after you have generated the accounts and computations files, you must generate new files. Submitting files that do not correspond to the current data in the form will result in errors.

2. Generating an iXBRL Accounts file

The Ftax CT600 form includes two Accounts templates which are used to generate iXBRL Accounts files. These can be accessed via the bookmarks on the left towards the bottom:

 

The CT600 will need to be completed first as various items of data, including the accounting period and Company Number are automatically copied to the accounts section:

 

To generate an iXBRL Accounts File, Begin by selecting either the Micro Entity or Small Company template:

 

The criteria for deciding wheter your company is classed as a Micro Entity or Small Business can be found in the HMRC notes here

Complete the template accounts making sure you add at least one director’s name. You are advised to enter the financial data beginning at the back as many figures are automatically totalled and forwarded:

 

The accounts must then be signed in two places by clicking the red buttons at the bottom of both the Director’s Report and the Statement of Financial Position/Balance Sheet:

 

The signatures will have dates automatically added. These may be altered but the format must remain the same. Click the ’x‘ next to the director’s name if you wish to re-sign:

 

To generate the iXBRL Accounts file, go to the front page of the CT600, click the iXBRL button at the bottom left, and select the IXBRL Accounts option:

 

After a few seconds a green success screen should appear:

 

Click the 'login' button on this screen, login to your Ftax Account on the Ftax website, scroll down to the 'Recent PDF Copies/iXBRL Files' section and click 'Download' to save the file in a known location:

 

If a red Error screen is displayed then check you have entered your email address and try again:

 

If the problem persists then send in a Support Request and attach the saved CT600 to the support ticket:

 

Please note: iXBRL files must be handled carefully as they are easily corrupted. They must be generated by either Ftax or other software that complies with the HMRC iXBRL requirement, for example VT software. You can view iXBRL files on your computer but you must not save or amend them. Saving iXBRL files after opening them in a browser will cause corruption, and result in an error message when you submit the form to HMRC.

 

3. Attaching iXBRL files to the Ftax CT600 form

When both iXBRLfiles have been generated and saved in a known location then you are ready to attach them to the CT600. These may have been generated by Ftax itself, or by another service such as VT Software. To do this first go to the ‘Attachments‘ page via the bookmarks on the left:

 Alternatively you may also reach this page via the red button at the top of page 2 of the tax return:

 

Begin by clicking the red ‘Attach iXBRL Accounts‘ button at the top:

 

And then selecting the file from its known location:

 

The file name and type should appear at the bottom of the page to confirm the attachment:

 

If you do not have an iXBRL Accounts file to attach then a reason must be selected from the drop down list displayed:

 

Next, click the the red ‘Attach iXBRL Computations‘ button and select the file from its known location:

 

Again, the file name and type will appear at the bottom of the page to confirm the attachment:

 

If you do not have an iXBRL Computations file to attach then a reason must be selected from the drop down list:

 

An additional PDF form may be then attached at the bottom of the Attachments page:

 

Other instructions on the page should be read to help you correctly attach your files:

 

If you make a mistake when attaching then you can clear the attachment file boxes at the bottom and the page will prompt you to begin again:

 

When you have finished attaching, click the’Back to Return‘ button at the top and return to the opening page ready to submit:

 

You will also need to upload a copy of the iXBRL Accounts files to Companies House (Ftax does NOT do this for you).

 

We are very grateful to our clients for their comments and suggestions, without which these guides would not be possible.
If you have a suggestion to improve this guide or its associated video, please email tracey@ftax.co.uk