You may receive an Error: 'SBR - Lodgment Failed' when trying to lodge tax forms or download a prefill. Before proceeding with these steps, review SBR Lodgment Failed to resolve the most common causes.
Here are some additional causes:
ATO Machine to Machine (M2M) credentials are expired, corrupt, or invalid.
Lodgment Authentication method.
Antivirus or Firewall may be blocking the connection process.
Your SBR data files are invalid.
ATO M2M credentials are expired, corrupt, or invalid
Occasionally, the business credentials supplied by the ATO will need to be downloaded again. You need to download a new machine credential every two years, or when you change either Tax Agent Number or business structure, resulting in a new ABN.
Lodgment Authentication method
You can switch lodgment methods to the Access ATO Gateway:
Log in to HandiTax, then go to Options, Set ATO credentials.
Select Access ATO Gateway, enter your keystore password, then click OK.
Restart HandiTax and attempt the lodgment or prefill again.
If required, notify the ATO of your hosted software service, and attempt the lodgment or prefill once more.
If you are already using the Access ATO Gateway:
Log in to HandiTax, then go to Options, Set ATO credentials.
Select ATO Credential Authentication, enter your keystore password, then click OK.
Restart HandiTax and attempt the lodgment or prefill again.
Antivirus or Firewall is blocking the connection process
Some Antivirus and Firewall software interact with outgoing internet connections. If your Antivirus or Firewall is blocking the ATO connection process, you can temporarily pause or disable your Antivirus and Firewall software.
Log in to HandiTax, then attempt to prefill. If lodging a return, tick the SBR Pre-lodge button to ensure the return is not submitted for assessment while the Antivirus is paused.
You can set connection allowances for each application or process to determine how strictly Firewall and Antivirus monitor incoming or outgoing communication. For specific information relating to the configuration of your Antivirus and Firewall software, please contact your Antivirus software vendor.
Your SBR data files are invalid
Your SBR folder may contain files with mismatch dates and you will need to reinstall HandiTax.
Rename the HSoft\Apps\SBR folder to \SBR<Today's Date>.
Install the latest version of HandiTax 20XX from the website below, then apply the latest HandiTax 20XX update, i.e v1.03.
If you use the Access ATO Gateway (AAG) method of lodgment, copy the .dat file located in the \HSoft\Apps\SBR<Today's Date>\AAG folder and paste into the new \HSoft\Apps\SBR\AAG folder.
Log in to HandiTax, then attempt to prefill or lodge.
Configuration file
Close all users out of all HandiSoft programs.
Navigate to your HSoft\Apps folder in File Explorer.
Rename the Ht2x.exe.config file to Ht2x.exe.configOLD, or if using the SQL version, the file will be called Ht2xSQL.exe.config (*x indicates the HandiTax year e.g. HT25).
Navigate to HSoft\Apps\SBR\Logs and delete all files displayed.
The user with the issue can then log in to HandiTax.
Go to Lodgment, Set ATO Credentials, click the ellipsis to re-select the keystore.xml file, reselect the credential from the drop-down menu, type in the password, OK.
Restart HandiTax and attempt to lodge or prefill a return.
If the lodgment or prefill continues to fail, you will need to send your log files for review.
Log Files
Your log files can show us what your users' computer and keystore file is doing when they attempt to lodge and prefill.
Log all users out of HandiTax programs.
Clear all log files in the HSoft\Apps\SBR\Logs folder.
Log in to HandiTax then attempt to lodge or prefill, this will generate new logs.
In HandiTax, go to Tools, Save SBR Log Files, select a location, OK.
If you have an existing case with support, upload these files to your case and leave a case comment to advise your support analyst.
If you don't have an existing support case, raise a new case with support online, then attach the log files to your case.