Guidance

Create a digital platform report

Schema and supporting guidance for software developers or agents acting for digital platform operators to create XML reports about sellers using digital platforms.

As a digital platform operator, you must use this guidance for your software developer to build and fill in reports in XML format for submission to HMRC.

You can also use a third-party software provider to build your XML files.

How to build the XML file

To build the XML file, and correct or delete any data in the file, you must:

  • use the XML schema (ZIP, 25.2 KB) — technical details that explain how your XML file must be structured and formatted
  • follow the Business rules and error messages (ODS, 14.7 KB) — rules that your content and data need to follow to build the XML file

To help build the XML file, and correct or delete any data in the file, use:

What to check when creating the XML file

Your XML file must:

  • present the information as quarterly reports within the file
  • present all monetary values in whole numbers, for example, £20, not £20.30
  • match the schema and business rules to prevent a failed submission
  • include the platform operator ID in the ‘SendingEntityIN’ field, not the registration ID
  • have all comments removed to pass business rules

Your XML file must not be:

  • bigger than 100MB
  • a compressed zip file

You do not need to encrypt a file before submitting it. The system will encrypt the file after we’ve completed our checks.

If you have questions about the schema email aeoi.enquiries@hmrc.gov.uk.

After creating the XML file

Submit the report to HMRC.

Updates to this page

Published 19 September 2025

Sign up for emails or print this page