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GST | Increase backdating of GST returns

Why are we limited to backdating GST Returns in Blue Xero just 12 months.

It's crazy to limit the backdating of GST Returns to 12 months for Advisors. In an ideal world our clients are well behaved and we only need to deal with recent GST Returns. But we often get situations where we need to backdate GST Returns beyond 12 months: ie A client comes to us who has been trading for 2 or more years and not filed any Tax or GST returns - how do we deal with that? Or if we are doing a migration from another platform (MYOB/Quicken) and want historical data. It is more common than you would think (as is the case with this client).

The suggested workaround by Xero Support is to use the Account Transactions Report. However, It is dangerous relying on the Account Transactions Report for GST Return calculations. Specific accounts such as bank accounts and the GST account need to be omitted or double-up's happen. Also, the way this report handles GST on balance sheet transactions such as fixed asset sales and purchases where debit/credit polarity is reversed means if you are not observant - GST payments can be turned into refunds in the report.

We also cant export GST data to GST Returns in Xero Tax if we don't have a finalised GST Return.

A GST report is a far safer option. I cannot think of any reason from a user's perspective why there should be 12-month limit - so I can only imagine Xero wants to limit it for some reason - not a good thing to do!

34 votes

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Mike Hartley shared this idea  ·   ·  Report…  ·  Admin →
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  • Olivia Rawson commented  ·   ·  Report

    100% - we have three years that need to be filed and now I'm having to do it all manually

  • Balaji Kris commented  ·   ·  Report

    yes, I agree. I have a client migrated from another system, with 4 years of GST returns to be filed from Xero. Too difficult to establish the correctness of manual GST working and risk of filing incorrect GST incurring penalties and interest.

  • Rowena Kirkwood commented  ·   ·  Report

    This is absolutely needed and Xero need to come to the party with this function.

  • Sherry Wang commented  ·   ·  Report

    Yes, 100% agreed with Mike . We have the same problem sometimes and look forward to the feature to be turned on.

  • Debbie Stevens commented  ·   ·  Report

    100% agree, we need this feature and I look forward to being able to use it.
    thanks Xero.

  • Anthony Rohan commented  ·   ·  Report

    Also support this idea 100% and echo the comments below.

    I can't understand why is Xero taking active steps to remove functionality that used to make it one of the most progressive accounting systems available.

    We converted a client to Xero with the promise of tidying up everything and preparing their missed GST returns - now we're left with an Account Transactions report....

    At the very least if you're going to turn off the functionality for all users, have the option to turn it back on is cases where the feature is requested.

  • Liz Dreadon commented  ·   ·  Report

    Absolutely 100% agree with this.
    I'm dealing with a client who has had no accounting software at all and has been trading since 2015. Has not filed a tax return or GST and by back loading all the data manually into Xero have found needs to file gst from 2017 but I can't.