Creating a test account

Note: Anyone can access the HMRC sandbox without registering. However, there is a restriction in the number of tests you can submit per period for a given user. You might need to generate new users to continue testing.

Perform these steps to get a test VAT number from HMRC which serves as a valid access token for your test system. The token is valid for 18 months.

  1. Navigate to https://test-api.service.hmrc.gov.uk/oauth/authorize?response_type=code&client_id=6v4dZs6fYl2T9T6BGkDKYioQz6sa&scope=read:vat+write:vat&redirect_uri=http://localhost:8080/oauth/grant?action=doGrant
    Note: Ensure that there are no blank spaces when copying and pasting the link to your browser.
    Review the details in the Authority to interact with HMRC on your behalf page. Click Continue.
  2. On the Sign in page, click Don’t have Test User Credentials.
  3. On the Create a test user page, select Organisation and click Continue.
    The Generated organisation page is displayed.
  4. Take note of the test User ID, Password, and VAT registration number provided by HMRC which will be used in the latter phases of this setup.
  5. Add the VAT registration number into the appropriate place in your ERP so that all BODs published will contain the correct VAT registration number for your sandbox user.
  6. Update the VAT registration number in Contact Master:
    1. Select Tax Reporting (United Kingdom) from the subscription list.
    2. In the accordion panel, click Settings > Service and Admin Settings.
    3. Under Maintenance, select Contact Master from the list and click Launch.
      Use this table to create a contact master where position is "Company":
      Field Input
      Title Company
      Position Company
      Contact ID Click Contact ID and in the Identification Numbers window, select TaxIdentificationNumber as ID Type from the drop-downlist and specify the VAT Registration Number of the Company in the ID Number field.
    4. Click Save.