SETS recent and upcoming updates

Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. We have introduced some Portal/Dashboard usability enhancements including new search criteria, a ‘sort by’ filter, a Mark as unread option added to Messaging and a ‘Give feedback’ option will be available on every page
2. You will now be able to download a PDF confirmation for your return on the submission page
3. You will now be informed of any transitional rate changes within the Portal that could potentially affect your saved draft returns
4. You will now be required to justify why you are editing a tax calculation via our free text box addition
5. If someone selects non-residential as property type (on an LBTT conveyance return) they will be required to enter a reason for the transaction being non-residential including a new drop down list
6. The ‘non-chargeable consideration field on Conveyance returns are now unconditional and will appear on every return. 

Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. Pre-population and locking down of previous lease data: Most of the information on the review return will be pre-populated with data from the previous return. This will save taxpayers time and reduce the risk of errors. However, some information, such as the tenant's name and the effective date of the lease, will be locked down and cannot be edited.
2. Asking unauthenticated users for further information to verify their request to submit a lease review return: Unauthenticated users (those who don't have a SETS account) will now be asked for additional information when they try to submit a lease review return. This information will be used to verify the user's identity and to ensure that they are authorised to submit the return.
3. Declaration page at the beginning of the process: There will now be a declaration page at the beginning of the process for agents who are submitting a lease review return. This declaration will confirm that the agent has authority to view the data that will be pulled across from the previous return, and that they are aware that some of the information will be read only.
4. Reliefs section on review returns: There will now be functionality to carry reliefs over on to subsequent lease review returns. This is for any original leases where partial relief was claimed. The type of relief and how much tax was previously relieved will be pre-populated, but taxpayers and agents can adjust the amount relieved if the rental values have changed.
5. Repayments section: The system will no longer ask if you wish to have a repayment yes/or no. If the rental values or term of the lease have changed and there is a repayment due, SETS will automatically ask for bank details so this can be repaid. The amount of tax that can be repaid is also automatically calculated from the rental figures and locked down and un-editable.
6. Taxpayer email on submission: All taxpayers will now get an email to confirm that a return has been submitted by them or on their behalf. It also reminds them of the effective date and of their future obligations.
7. Taxpayers are now able to download a PDF copy of their return: Taxpayers using the unauthenticated portal will now be given the option to download a copy of the return they have just submitted.
8. Additional help/hint text added to sections of the return: There will be additional help/hint text added to sections of the return, mainly around effective and relevant dates. This will help taxpayers to understand what these dates mean and how to calculate them.
9. You will not be able to delete all prepopulated tenants on the review return: If you try to delete all of the prepopulated tenants on the review return, you will see an error message and a warning that at least one pre-existing tenant must remain on the return.
10. The ‘amount already paid’ field will now be relabelled ‘tax payable on previous return’: The ‘amount already paid’ field will now be relabelled ‘tax payable on previous return’ to make it clearer what this field represents.

 Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. The SETS portal will have a new look and feel from Monday 15 May 2023, coming in line with Digital Scotland standards. To find out more about Digital Scotland standards, please follow this link - Digital Scotland Service Standard
2. Also in the update, there will be some minor bug fixes to the system.

 Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. When the Scottish Government announces any rate change to LBTT or ADS the SETS system will now use the contract date and the effective date to calculate the tax to take into account any transitional periods. 
2. Agent authorisation will now not require an end date as the 12 month agent authority time limit has been removed. 
3. When a user is completing an original lease return on the portal - if the return appears to be non-notifiable, upon clicking submit, the user will be presented with a screen that explains that the return is non-notifiable, along with the rules.
4. When a user completes an LBTT return, they will now be presented with the option to complete a feedback form relating to the service.

 Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. When a user is logged in and opts to changes their password using ‘preferences’ they will now be asked to provide the current password and new password to enable the change.
2. You will now be able to enter all your returns’ reliefs in one place when you claim both ADS relief and LBTT relief. See step by step guidance on how to complete the reliefs section.
3. You will now be able to specify a relief type as being applicable to LBTT tax liability or to ADS tax liability or applicable to both.
4. We have updated the layout of the LBTT return to make it more user friendly.
5. The PDF that can be produced from any LBTT return now reflects the new improved layout.

Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. When claiming Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR), you will now be required to answer additional questions in relation to the relief. This includes “Number of dwellings”, “Total consideration attributable to dwellings” & “Number of dwellings that attract ADS”
2. Non-individual’s (e.g. a company) will not be able to submit a return without supplying Additional Dwelling Supplement figures. Reliefs are available on ADS if applicable.
3. The question ‘Is it pre-treated?’ will be removed from the SLfT return when asked about waste details. All waste must be pre-treated.
4. You will now be able to indicate that waste was generated from outside Scotland on the SLfT return. The additional options will be England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, EU, Outside of EU
5. Various spelling and grammar updates have been made to SETS to make your journey through the SETS portal more straight forward and easy to follow.

Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. Portal Users will be able to auto-populate an address for a buyer (tenant) or seller (landlord) with an address entered previously as part of the same return submission - making it easier and quicker to fill in a return.
2. The email confirmation for signing up now includes a hyperlink making it easier to log in to the Scottish Electronic Tax System (SETS)
3. The ‘Rejection of account’ email has been improved to make it clearer why a request for an account may have been rejected.
4. Various spelling and grammar updates have been made to SETS to make your journey through the SETS portal more straight forward and easy to follow.

Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. LBTT lease returns: The relevant rent is now no longer a mandatory field and is only mandatory if a premium has been entered by the user.
2. Users will now be warned if they enter an effective and/or relevant date for conveyance or lease returns that is outside of expected range. This does not stop users submitting their tax return.
3. Users will now see an error if the entered date of the lease is not a 3rd anniversary of the effective date entered.
4. Users will now see an error if the Lease end date is not the same as the relevant date entered. This is only valid on a termination return.
5. Users will now need to supply an amendment reason when submitting an amended return.

Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. When filling out an ADS repayment claim for taxpayers, you will now be required to enter either your telephone number or email address when filling out the 'Your Details' page. This is to ensure Revenue Scotland is able to contact you if there is an issue with the repayment.
2. When requesting a repayment from Revenue Scotland, the 'Name of account holder' field will now be restricted to 152 characters.
3. The date that a LBTT or SLfT return was submitted via the portal is now visible on the PDF that is produced.
4. Whilst entering a LBTT return, if you answer  'Yes' to 'Are Tenant/Landlord or Buyer/Seller connected', the portal will now ask you the mandatory question 'How are they connected?'
5. Agent authorisation will now be calculated from the date the return is submitted rather than the filling date. This will give RS more time to interact with Agents.
6. When receiving an automated email from RS, the RS number will now be in the email subject.
7. When receiving a secure message in relation to a return, the RS number will be used in the subject line.

Summary details of new functionality being introduced to the SETS portal:

1. Users may now see banners on the homepage of the dashboard. These will contain important messages relating to such issues as scheduled downtime and highlighting changes to legislation.
2. If you have not chosen Direct Debit as your preferred payment option when submitting a return, you will now not be able to choose the Direct Debit option when amending your return. This is to ensure there are no complications when completing your return.

The upgraded Scottish Electronic Tax System (SETS)  went live in July 2019.  View all updates during the upgrade period:

• 21 January 2020
• 21 November 2019
• 6 September 2019
• 6 August 2019  ​
• 8 August 2019