Authorisation Failure 502 with Test Credentials — Need Test eFiling Presenter Account for Accounts Filing

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Hi,

I am building QuickXBRL , a software filing platform for UK micro-entity FRS 105 iXBRL accounts, and I am stuck on Authorisation Failure (Error 502) when testing accounts submission via the XML Gateway.

What I have tried:

  1. Method: clear, SenderID: plain text, Value: plain text → 502 Authorisation Failure

  2. Method: CHMD5, SenderID: plain text, Value: plain text → 502 Authorisation Failure

  3. Method: clear, SenderID: md5# + MD5 hash, Value: md5# + MD5 hash → 502 Authorisation Failure

  4. Method: CHMD5, SenderID: md5# + MD5 hash, Value: md5# + MD5 hash → 502 Authorisation Failure

Interesting observation:

When I send the MD5 hashed version I sometimes get a different error:

“Invalid testmode selected. You must use a test efiling presenter account and set the test mode.”

This tells me the network connection is working fine and the gateway is receiving my request. The issue is purely the credentials or account activation.

My current envelope:

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<GovTalkMessage xmlns="http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/CM/envelope">
  <EnvelopeVersion>2.0</EnvelopeVersion>
  <Header>
    <MessageDetails>
      <Class>Accounts</Class>
      <Qualifier>request</Qualifier>
      <Function>submit</Function>
      <TransactionID>000001</TransactionID>
      <GatewayTest>1</GatewayTest>
    </MessageDetails>
    <SenderDetails>
      <IDAuthentication>
        <SenderID>[md5# + MD5 hash of Presenter ID]</SenderID>
        <Authentication>
          <Method>clear</Method>
          <Role>Filing</Role>
          <Value>[md5# + MD5 hash of Auth Value]</Value>
        </Authentication>
      </IDAuthentication>
    </SenderDetails>
  </Header>
  <GovTalkDetails>
    <Keys>
      <Key Type="PackageRef">0012</Key>
    </Keys>
  </GovTalkDetails>
  <Body>
    <FormSubmission xmlns="http://xmlgw.companieshouse.gov.uk/Header">
      <FormIdentifier>Accounts</FormIdentifier>
      <FormHeader>
        <CompanyNumber>00000006</CompanyNumber>
        <CompanyType>EW</CompanyType>
        <CompanyName>Test Company Limited</CompanyName>
        <CompanyAuthenticationCode>777777</CompanyAuthenticationCode>
        <PackageReference>0012</PackageReference>
        <Language>EN</Language>
        <SubmissionNumber>000001</SubmissionNumber>
      </FormHeader>
      <DateSigned>2025-12-31</DateSigned>
      <Document>
        <Data>[base64 encoded iXBRL]</Data>
        <Date>2025-12-31</Date>
        <Filename>Accounts.html</Filename>
        <ContentType>application/xhtml+xml</ContentType>
        <Category>ACCOUNTS</Category>
      </Document>
    </FormSubmission>
  </Body>
</GovTalkMessage>

What I believe the issue is:

I read the resolved thread here on this forum: https://xmlforum.companieshouse.gov.uk/t/authorisation-failure-during-testing/1927

Where Lee confirmed:

“Using the Presenter credentials obtained via the website should not be used in testing mode. Testing Presenter credentials are obtained by emailing Companies House.”

I believe my current credentials are not specifically activated as test eFiling presenter credentials for accounts filing. I have emailed xml@companieshouse.gov.uk but have not received a response after several days.

My questions:

  1. What is the correct authentication format — plain text or md5# prefixed MD5 hash?

  2. Is there anything wrong with my envelope structure that could be causing this?

Any help from the community or from Simon would be greatly appreciated. This is the final blocker before we can launch QuickXBRL.