Do you use commercial software for Self Assessment tax returns?

Do you use commercial software for Self...

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Do you use any commercial software for Self Assessment tax returns?

If yes, would you recommend any for a small to medium size practice? Or is HMRC's online form good enough? 

And if I am planning to use VT+ for accounts preparation and filing, is there any tax returns software which is better compatible with VT or does it not matter?

Thank you very much in advance

Replies (26)

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Out of my mind
By runningmate
01st Aug 2015 15:39

How many tax returns

How many self assessment income tax returns would you expect to file per year - 50, 500, 5000?

Would you expect to be doing income tax returns for individuals, partnerships, trusts, estates, ministers of religion?

RM

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By Chrisy_Dragonheart
01st Aug 2015 15:52

Hi,

Difficult to estimate - very few at first and hopefully more over time as my practice-to-be grows. Let's say 50-100 but ideally it would be scalable, for individuals - private and sole traders, and partnerships.

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By Moonbeam
01st Aug 2015 16:15

Taxfiler

I recommend it as being very easy to understand, very cost effective, and if you do have a problem Taxfiler have some very supportive people to help you.

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By levelheaded1903
01st Aug 2015 17:36

I agree with moonbeam, I use VT and taxfiler, unlimited SA/company/partnership returns for £15 plus vat per month. Used to use BTC which was good, but lore expensive and limit to number of returns you can complete

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VNF
By vfilipova
01st Aug 2015 18:11

HMRC's online

I use HMRC's online form which is good enough for individuals, self-employed and partnerships. I do not currently have any other types of clients, so using the free online HMRC's software is suitable for me. Could recommend Moneysoft for payroll.

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By Matrix
01st Aug 2015 19:04

I use HMRC software for self-assessment (individuals and companies), you cannot use it for partnerships so don't know how the above poster does this. It works fine (although most other practitioners would disagree).

I have about 50 returns and should really now purchase software, so will probably go the Taxfiler route.

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Replying to Calculatorboy:
VNF
By vfilipova
01st Aug 2015 19:52

Partnerships

Do apologise - it doesn't work for partnerships. To my knowledge, I don't know of a free software for filling partnersip returns

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By pauljgoodman
01st Aug 2015 20:02

tax software

If you are a small/medium size, I would have thought you could run to £450 a year, and get TaxCalc, which would cover self employed, partnerships and ltd companies.  I confess I have never used the HMRC offering, the idea just puts me right off.

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blue sheep
By NH
02nd Aug 2015 07:43

Absolute

Not many on here will agree but I decided to pay more for integrated software to save time, so we use Absolute, key the TB in and the accounts and tax are done.

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RLI
By lionofludesch
02nd Aug 2015 08:50

HMRC

I use HMRC software for SA.  Never had a problem with it.  But then, I don't do anything complicated either.

I quite like the idea that, if the software goes down, I have an automatic reasonable excuse.

Partnerships ?  Well, I only have two.  It's just not worth my while to buy the software.  I just file on paper.  I've told the clients that if they don't give me the stuff in time to file by 31st October, they'll have to pay for some software.   The last partnership books were delivered to me last Friday.

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By JimH
02nd Aug 2015 11:07

Reason I continue to use Taxfiler ....
.... is for its flexibility. Whilst tempted by time savings with integrated and more intuitive tax software, it is very good value and doesn't sell by bundles of x Ltds and y personal returns. You'll be able to file partnership and trust returns as well as companies and personal tax returns within the sub 50 or more than 50 tax return quota p.a. Cloud rather than desktop means I can access it from tablet on holiday, leaving the large heavy laptop at home.

I balance my praise and remain with Taxfiler despite a) feeling that Taxfiler relies more heavily on user expertise for full and correct disclosure by selection of data entry points than the larger mature software providers I've previously used; and b) having suffered an isolated failure in the software to communicate data entry through to HMRC, where the data I entered did not appear on HMRC's received return despite being shown on my view of return and calculations.

Tips for dealing with a) and b) above:

You can check Taxfiler's transmission report which is how I identified that the fault lay with the software rather than HMRC (though costly to me in time and professional credibility, I put the fault down to early days of new software writing. Taxfiler corrected the fault within 24 hours of me notifying the glitch)

From the tax return view, it's easy to access the appropriate data entry point, so auditing and ensuring the completeness of return.

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By Chrisy_Dragonheart
02nd Aug 2015 11:43

Taxfiler

I had a look at Taxfiler and it seems quite flexible indeed and the complete package offer (i.e. unlimited returns, incl. Ltds) sounds like a good value. I know the cloud-based technology has many advantages, but it still makes me feel a bit nervous.

I knew of TaxCalc before. It is a bit more expensive and less flexible in terms of options, but if it is worth it, then the cost difference is not that much.

@pauljgoodman - do you use TaxCalc's other products as well - accounts preparation and VAt returns?

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Replying to Mr_awol:
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By pauljgoodman
02nd Aug 2015 19:13

Taxcalc
No, I haven't been tempted to use the accounts package, I was happy with VTT accounts.

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Replying to Mr_awol:
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By carnmores
03rd Aug 2015 14:33

get over it !

Chrisy_Dragonheart wrote:

I had a look at Taxfiler and it seems quite flexible indeed and the complete package offer (i.e. unlimited returns, incl. Ltds) sounds like a good value. I know the cloud-based technology has many advantages, but it still makes me feel a bit nervous.

 

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By carnmores
02nd Aug 2015 13:03

i have always used HMRC
But use the brilliant TAXFILER for partnership, trust and CT returns, I cant praise it highly enough and now you can prepare basic accounts, new features being added all the time, its a no brainer

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By carnmores
02nd Aug 2015 13:06

i use HMRC because if anything happens to me
Its all there and clients can all see it and computations etc at anytime

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By F1 fan
02nd Aug 2015 13:42

Tax software

For a very economical solution, try Forbes.  You will find all the information at www.tax.co.uk  If you decide to use HMRC software initially to keep costs down (which does not do partnerships), then Forbes is the answer when you pick up partnership clients.

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Replying to DJKL:
By Tim Vane
03rd Aug 2015 00:45

Really?

F1 fan wrote:

For a very economical solution, try Forbes.

The last time I looked Forbes was not what I would call economical, compared to other packages. To file for individuals, partnerships, companies and trusts then I think Forbes costs over £800, which is comparable to the price of the same functionality in BTC and more expensive than Taxcalc. I think if you buy the right bundles then the prices for all 3 are probably similar, but not less than around £600 a year. If you want cloud, the equivalent functionality in Tax Filer would be around £200 per year. We could probably expect cloud to work out cheaper, but even among the non-cloud products I don't agree that Forbes are a "very economical solution", unless they are discounting heavily from their advertised prices.

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By sparkler
02nd Aug 2015 14:50

HMRC

I use the HMRC software for around 50 self assessment tax returns each year. The HMRC product is pretty good and does the job absolutely fine, unlike their corporation tax software which is hopeless.

I too have just two partnerships and cannot justify the purchase of software simply to file two returns, so I do these on paper.

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By cheekychappy
03rd Aug 2015 08:20

Taxfiler do one-off returns. Why bother with paper?

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By stratty
03rd Aug 2015 08:51

Digita Taxpro for me.  

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By Howard Marks
03rd Aug 2015 11:03

BTC

I'm still with BTC, works well.

 

The price doesn't complete with Taxfiler though unfortunately.  This thread would've been 90% BTC a year or so ago but times have changed.

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By F1 fan
04th Aug 2015 18:43

Forbes

I was suggesting Forbes for one or two partnership returns alongside the HMRC software.  It costs 30 pounds to do a partnership return.  I have used the software for 5 years (you have to pay again each year).  You do not have to spend £800.

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By Southwestbeancounter
04th Aug 2015 18:57

Sage

I use Sage Taxation as it can cope with everything from sole traders to partnerships to trusts (once you pay for the specific partnership bolt on etc) and although it is not at all cheap it is a brilliant bit of kit and ties in seamlessly with Sage accounts production that we use which again is superb. As a professional practice I just feel personally that to use HMRC's software is 'naff' for want of a better word and to me looks like the practice is cheap and cheerful rather than looking to use the best software it can afford but as I say that's just my personal view after many years in business.

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By Tim Vane
04th Aug 2015 19:08

Hmm.

"Sage". "Brilliant".

I'm not sure those two words belong in the same sentence.

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Replying to the_fishmonger:
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By Southwestbeancounter
04th Aug 2015 20:07

It can be......

Tim Vane wrote:

Hmm.

"Sage". "Brilliant".

I'm not sure those two words belong in the same sentence.

Sage Accounts Production is a fantastic bit of software but again it always was before it was purchased by Sage from Apex. I first bought it in 1996 (direct from Apex Software in Dublin) and so over the years I have learnt many shortcuts etc. Where Sage have gone wrong is that they seem to care less & less about customer service & more & more about profits.
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