Submitting to EMTA

File the Estonian KMD VAT return with EMTA: authorise Arvello in e-MTA, then submit directly over X-tee or upload the generated XML at the portal.

Filing a KMD (the Estonian VAT return) has two parts in Arvello: a one-off authorisation that lets Arvello act for your company at EMTA — the Estonian Tax and Customs Board — and the routine of filing each period's return through e-MTA, EMTA's online portal.

The authorisation is granted inside e-MTA itself, by you. That's by design: e-MTA only lets a board member, or an accountant your company has authorised, hand out access to your tax affairs.

Authorising Arvello in e-MTA

Arvello asks for three machine-to-machine permissions, granted to its operating company Namasgo OÜ (registry code 16747054): one for sending KMD data, one for sending TSD data — the payroll declaration, covered under TSD returns — and one for the employment register (TÖR). These permissions are what allow returns to be submitted directly over X-tee, Estonia's secure data-exchange layer. Direct TSD submission is available only on accounts where it has been enabled: the TSD return then shows Submit to EMTA via X-tee, and otherwise you upload the TSD file in e-MTA yourself. Arvello doesn't submit TÖR data: that permission is requested in advance, so nothing needs granting again when it can. Until then you register employees in the employment register in e-MTA, before their first working day.

You'll find this as a one-off step on the dashboard checklist — "Authorise Arvello in e-MTA". It's a tax-filing step, separate from invoice setup. It takes about two minutes:

Go to emta.ee and log in with Smart-ID, Mobile-ID or your ID card.

Represent your company

Select your company as the represented person — not yourself as a private individual.

Open access permissions

Go to Settings → Access permissions → Access permissions of representatives and click New access permission.

Find Namasgo OÜ

Enter registry code 16747054 (Namasgo OÜ), click Search, then Next.

Enable all three permissions

Set the start date and open the Separate permissions tab. Search for and enable all three: "Sending value added tax return (form KMD) data by machine-to-machine interface" (XT_MM_KMD), "Sending income and social tax return (form TSD) data by machine-to-machine interface" (XT_MM_TSD), and "Sending employment register (TÖR) data by machine-to-machine interface" (XT_MM_TOR). Then save.

Confirm in Arvello

Back in Arvello, select I've granted these permissions. Arvello can't read your e-MTA permissions directly, so this records that you've done it rather than checking — Arvello confirms each permission the first time it actually files, and tells you if one is still missing.

Filing a return

Once a return is approved and shows Ready to Submit (see Preparing a KMD return), there are two routes to EMTA: direct submission over X-tee from inside Arvello — available on accounts where it has been enabled — and the manual round trip through the e-MTA portal with the same files. Both file the identical declaration.

Direct submission over X-tee

Where direct submission is available on your account, the return page shows Submit to EMTA via X-tee:

Submit from the return

Select Submit to EMTA via X-tee. Arvello asks for the personal ID code (isikukood) of the person filing — EMTA requires it on every machine-to-machine filing, and that person needs access to the company's data in e-MTA (accounting-package rights). Your browser remembers the code for your next filing — it is not stored with the company's data, so another team member enters their own.

Arvello files the KMD

The KMD and its KMD INF annexes go to EMTA in a single declaration, and the status changes to Submitted. If the return includes a VD (EC Sales List), that is a separate declaration — download the VD (XML) and load it into the VD in e-MTA, as described under Manual upload below. The download stays on the return after the X-tee submission.

Check the outcome

EMTA processes the declaration shortly after it arrives. Select Check EMTA status on the return: once processed, the status settles to Accepted by EMTA, or to Rejected with EMTA's reasons listed on the return page.

⚠️Unread documents block filing

e-MTA refuses to confirm a declaration sent over the machine-to-machine interface while the company has unread documents waiting in e-MTA. If a filing is rejected for that reason, open e-MTA, read the pending documents, and submit again.

A return whose checklist warns about a partial deduction (VAT-exempt sales this year) isn't sent directly: Arvello deducts the shared input VAT in full, and the correction goes on lines 10 and 11, which only e-MTA takes. Download the return's file, upload it in e-MTA and enter the correction there (see Preparing a KMD return).

Manual upload

The manual route uses the files Arvello generated at approval:

Download the files

From the return, download the KMD (XML) — the KMD INF annexes are already inside it — plus the VD (XML) if the return includes one.

Upload the KMD in e-MTA

Load the VD, if there is one

The VD is its own report. In e-MTA, open Maksud → Käibemaks → Ühendusesisese käibe aruanne (VD) (Taxes → VAT → EC Sales List), create the period's report with Uus aruanne (New report), open it with the pencil icon and choose Laadi andmed failist (Load data from file). Loading the file replaces any rows already on the report. e-MTA checks that the registry code, year and month in the file match the report, so load it into the right month. Check the rows, then confirm the report.

Mark as submitted

Back in Arvello, select Mark as Submitted. There's an optional field for the e-MTA reference if you'd like it on record. The return's status changes to Submitted and the period stays locked.

Common questions

A filing was rejected because a permission is missing

Because there's no live check, you'll only learn a permission is missing when Arvello first tries to file and e-MTA refuses — Arvello then shows a message naming the permission to grant (for example XT_MM_KMD), with a link to the setup steps. If you see that, check in e-MTA that the permission was granted while representing the company (not yourself), that it's enabled, and that the start date isn't in the future. A freshly granted permission can take a few minutes to take effect, so a short wait and a retry often does it. Permissions are listed in e-MTA under Settings → Access permissions; one that has been ended or has lapsed can be re-granted by repeating the steps above. You can always file manually in the meantime — download the files and upload them in e-MTA.

My submission was rejected

For a direct X-tee filing, EMTA's reasons appear on the return page in Arvello once you check the status; for a manual upload, e-MTA shows them in the portal. The usual culprits are company details that don't match EMTA's records — check the registry code and VAT number in company settings, since both go into the filing — unread documents waiting in e-MTA (see above), a submitter whose e-MTA access to the company is missing, or a return already filed for that period. EMTA does not register a rejected declaration. To file again, select Amend Return on the return: it creates a fresh copy, which you correct, approve and then submit over X-tee or upload in e-MTA (see amending a return).

The return says "Submitting" and nothing is happening

That means Arvello started a direct submission but couldn't confirm whether EMTA received it — for example a network interruption at exactly the wrong moment, or an error from EMTA's side that came after the declaration may already have arrived. Arvello deliberately leaves the return in that state instead of retrying, so the same period can't be filed twice. Check in e-MTA whether the declaration arrived, then record the resolution with Mark as Submitted — Arvello accepts it a couple of minutes after the attempt, once it's certain no submission is still running. If the declaration never arrived, the manual upload route always works: download the KMD (XML) — and the VD (XML), if there is one — from the return, upload them in e-MTA, then mark the return as submitted.

⚠️Disclaimer

For informational purposes only. Not tax advice. Consult a qualified advisor.