Submit an ixbrl file

IXBRL is a way of describing financial transactions and statements in a way that makes them easier to compare. Elements of transactions and statements are tagged and computers can then recognise these tags, collate the data, analyse it and exchange it with other computers.

Sage Final Accounts can tag your client’s final accounts with iXBRL ready for submission to Companies House and HMRC in the UK and Revenue in ROI.

Sage Final Accounts lets you create multiple sets of accounts representing the same period. However, online filing requirements restrict filing to only one submission per period. If you try to submit multiple iXBRL files for the same period for the same client, you’ll receive a rejection message.

To submit an iXBRL file to Companies House

There are two ways to start the submission process. You can either do this at the point you generate the iXBRL file, or later.

Submit at the time you generate an iXBRL file

  1. Accounts Preview > Full set of Accounts > Generate Set of Accounts > iXBRL file for online filing

    Sage Final Accounts checks the set of accounts for validation errors before generating the iXBRL file. If it finds any, you’ll be notified and must resolve them before an iXBRL file can be created. You can click Check Set of Accounts yourself at any point to see what validation errors there are.

  2. Select File abbreviated set of accounts automatically to Companies House.

    Companies House only accepts abbreviated final accounts.

  3. If this is the first time you’ve filed online using Sage Final Accounts, you’ll need to enter the following:

    Presenter ID This will have been provided by Companies House when you applied to be a user of the electronic filing service. How do I apply?
    Presenter authentication code This will have been provided by Companies House when you applied to be a user of the electronic filing service.
    Registered email address The email address you used to set up your electronic filing service account with Companies House.

    And if this is the first time you’ve filed online for this customer, you’ll need to enter:

    Company authentication code Each of your clients that joins the Companies House electronic filing service, will be provided with a Company Authentication Code. This code is very much like aPINcode you would use with your bank and means only accounts that have been submitted with the company authentication code will be accepted. Companies House records these authentication codes against the relevant companies so that they can be verified when a document is filed on behalf of that company.
  4. Click Generate.

    Two iXBRL files will be generated.

    Full set of accounts Used when submitting the final accounts toHMRC.
    Abbreviated set of accounts Used when submitting the final accounts to Companies House.

    On the Client Summary page, in the Final Accounts section, you’ll see entries for both the files created. They will share the same period date as the set of accounts you’ve been working on.

    See how to check the status of an iXBRL file submission.

To submit an iXBRL file to HMRC

  1. Accounts Preview > Full set of Accounts > Generate Set of Accounts > iXBRL file for online filing

    Sage Final Accounts checks the set of accounts for validation errors before generating the iXBRL file. If it finds any, you’ll be notified and must resolve them before an iXBRL file can be created. You can click Check Set of Accounts yourself at any point to see what validation errors there are.

  2. Click Generate.

    Two iXBRL files will be generated.

    Full set of accounts Used when submitting the final accounts toHMRC.
    Abbreviated set of accounts Used when submitting the final accounts to Companies House.

    On the Client Summary page, in the Final Accounts section, you’ll see entries for both the files created. They will share the same period date as the set of accounts you’ve been working on. Click the Full version of the file you want to submit. A summary of the iXBRL file is displayed.

  3. Actions > Download.

    The file will be downloaded to your computer. Depending on your browser this file could be saved in several places. Check your browser’s help if you’re not sure how to find the downloaded file.

    The iXBRL file will end with the extension .htm. This is the file you’ll need to attach with your client’s company tax return.

  4. In the software you use to file your client’s company tax return, attach the iXBRL file you’ve downloaded, to your submission.

To submit an iXBRL file to Revenue

  1. Accounts Preview > Revenue set of Accounts > Generate Set of Accounts > iXBRL file for online filing

    Sage Final Accounts checks the set of accounts for validation errors before generating the iXBRL file. If it finds any, you’ll be notified and must resolve them before an iXBRL file can be created. You can click Check Set of Accounts yourself at any point to see what validation errors there are.

  2. Click Generate.

    You’ll be redirected to the Summary tab where your IXBRL file for submission to Revenue will be generated.

  3. Click the IXBRL file.

    You’ll be redirected to the Summary tab where your iXBRL file for submission to Revenue will be generated.

  4. Actions > Download.

    The file will be downloaded to your computer. Depending on your browser this file could be saved in several places. Check your browser’s help if you’re not sure how to find the downloaded file.

    The iXBRL file will end with the extension .htm. This is the file you’ll need to attach when filing via Revenue’s Online Service (ROS).