1. Acceptance of Terms

By registering for or using Vatter ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, you must not use the Service. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Grasshopper Surveying Services Limited trading as vatter.co.uk ("we", "us", "our").

2. Description of Service

Vatter is a web-based application that enables UK VAT-registered businesses and tax agents to connect to HMRC's Making Tax Digital (MTD) APIs, retrieve VAT obligations, liabilities, and payment records, and submit VAT returns digitally. Access to certain features requires a valid licence purchased through the Service.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and have the legal authority to act on behalf of any business entity you register within the Service. By using Vatter, you represent and warrant that you meet these requirements. Use of the Service is limited to legitimate VAT compliance purposes.

4. Account Registration and Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must:

• Provide accurate and complete registration information.
• Notify us immediately at support@vatter.co.uk if you suspect unauthorised access.
• Not share your credentials or allow others to access your account.
• Not create accounts for the purpose of misuse, automation abuse, or circumventing licence requirements.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that we reasonably believe are being misused.

5. HMRC Authorisation

To use the VAT submission features, you must complete the HMRC OAuth authorisation flow. By doing so, you grant Vatter permission to access and transmit VAT data on your behalf via the HMRC MTD APIs. You may revoke this authorisation at any time through your HMRC online account. Revoking authorisation will prevent VAT data from being retrieved or submitted until you re-authorise. We store your HMRC OAuth tokens securely and use them solely for the purpose of providing the Service.

6. Licences and Payment

Submitting VAT returns requires an active licence associated with the relevant entity. Licences are purchased on a per-submission or pool basis as described on the pricing page. All payments are processed by Stripe. By purchasing a licence, you agree to Stripe's terms of service in addition to these Terms.

All prices are stated inclusive of VAT where applicable. Licences are non-refundable once a VAT return has been successfully submitted using that licence. If you experience a technical fault that prevents a submission from completing despite payment being taken, contact us at support@vatter.co.uk and we will investigate and issue a replacement licence where appropriate.

7. Acceptable Use

You must not use Vatter to:

• Submit false, fraudulent, or misleading VAT returns.
• Access HMRC systems without appropriate authority.
• Attempt to reverse-engineer, scrape, or stress-test the Service.
• Interfere with the security or integrity of the Service or its underlying infrastructure.
• Impersonate another person or entity.
• Engage in any activity that violates applicable UK law or HMRC regulations.

We reserve the right to investigate and report suspected illegal activity to the relevant authorities.

8. Accuracy of VAT Data

You are solely responsible for the accuracy of the VAT figures you enter and submit through Vatter. Vatter facilitates the submission of data you provide; it does not verify the correctness of your VAT calculations or accounting records. You should seek professional tax advice if you are unsure about your VAT obligations. We accept no liability for penalties, interest, or other consequences arising from incorrect VAT returns submitted through the Service.

9. Availability and Changes to the Service

We aim to provide a reliable and available service but we do not guarantee uninterrupted access. The Service may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, HMRC API outages, or events outside our control. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time, with reasonable notice where possible. We will not be liable to you for any interruption or discontinuation of the Service.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• Our total liability to you in connection with the Service shall not exceed the total amount paid by you for licences in the twelve months preceding the claim.
• We are not liable for indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, loss of data, or reputational damage.
• We are not liable for any failure or delay caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including HMRC system outages.

Nothing in these Terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

11. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property rights in the Vatter application, including its design, code, and content, are owned by or licensed to us. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Service for your internal business purposes only. You must not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from any part of the Service without our prior written consent.

12. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. We encourage you to contact us at support@vatter.co.uk in the first instance to resolve any dispute informally.

13. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by email or through the Service at least 14 days before they take effect, except where changes are required by law or to address security issues. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Service and may close your account.