up a list of your clients. Put a tick in the send box against the client you wish to file.

make a selection of what you want to be filed to HMRC. It is mandatory that yousubmit computations relating to the CGT pages, this is automated by the program provided you leave the box ‘select schedules’ ticked. Alternatively you can click on ‘select schedules’ and un tick everything except the CGT schedules. You can also add any other attachments you feel relevant such as the accounts but they must be a PDF file.

Once you have made your selection click 'OK'.

The client will be highlighted with a tick in the send box, click on the prepare FBI files button, the program will then run a validation using HMRC business rules. If it detects any problems with the return it will display them in a separate window including the client name to which the error relates at which point you can either exit out of FBI and make the amendment or continue through and click on prepare FBI files. The validations will run for each client you have a tick against one after another.

Please note if you close out of the program it will retain the ticks against the client(s) selected.

Once you have clicked prepare FBI files the client will disappear from the window as it will have moved on to the next status. In the bottom right hand corner of the screen you will see some text ‘clients with no FBI status’ click on the arrow pointing down to the right of this and select ‘FBI files prepared awaiting returns to be printed’ from the dropdown list.

The client should now appear in the window. Click on the print returns button. This will open another window from which you can select from various print options, including whether to have a hardcopy or to create a .PDF file, once you have done this click OK.

If you have printed the return in any other way you must still make a selection in this window and in future must print from within FBI as the program puts an IR mark (unique identifier) at the top of the return which is an HMRC requirement. It will also print off something called an HMRC cover sheet which must be sent to the client along with the return for signing.

NB What is selected for printing has no bearing on what is actually submitted to the HMRC and any attachments you have added will not be printed at this stage.

The client should have disappeared from the window, click on the arrow pointing down again and select ‘returns sent to clients for signing’. At this point you should have posted the return to your client for signing so the length of time it is in this window will vary depending on your client. Once you receive the signed copy back you need to enter the date of signature in the bottom left hand corner and click on update.

(If you have multiple clients ensure you highlight the client to be updated before entering the date.)

The client should have disappeared from the window, click on the arrow pointing down again and click ‘returns signed by client awaiting transmission’ the client should reappear. Select the button ‘submit returns by FBI’ this should open a window headed ‘file by internet’ highlight LAN connection and then ‘connect’. This window should close automatically and take you back to your original window once the return(s) are successfully filed.

The client should have disappeared from the window, click on the arrow pointing down again and select ‘returns transmitted awaiting revenue acceptance’. If your client is in this window it means that it has been sent to the HMRC but they have not yet confirmed whether they will accept or reject it. You should click on ‘collect responses’ highlight LAN and then connect.

The client should have disappeared from the window, click on the arrow pointing down again and select ‘returns accepted by revenue’. If your client appears in this window the return has been accepted and you can print off the confirmation receipt and put a copy on the customers file.

If the client doesn’t appear in this window click on the arrow pointing down again and select ‘returns rejected by revenue’. If your client is listed in this window it means that the HMRC have rejected the return and you can print off the notice explaining why it has been rejected, you will need to click on the button ‘remove FBI status’ which will take your client back to the beginning of the process so that you can make the necessary amendments to the return and start the filing routine again.