Sage Taxation Software

delivery schedules
Maybe there should be a round up of who thinks their software will be ready to complete print and electronically file on the 6th April.

Then there could be a repeat of the survey at midnight on 6th April !

David Forbes
Forbes Computer Systems

Pertax
We started life with Orchard / MICL which has now become MYOB
We have used pertax for a number of years it links in well to their other products. Over the years we have tried other products outside of MYOB but keep coming back to their product range mainly because it has been designed by accountants for accountants . Why try to reinvent the wheel !!

Contact Iris Technical
When we migrated some 8 years ago, Iris migrated all of the clients’ data from Sage but were unable to migrate the historic accounts etc (Tax returns were on PTP). However things have moved on rapidly in recent year so I would recommend, as Euan says contacting Iris and asking about the migration process. My instinct is that you will finish up using Iris so any teething problems will need to be addressed at some stage, no time like the present :)

I am no techie
... but I do know that IRIS now runs on a MS SQL database, which (like it or not) is the open standard for databases these days. I would have thought that some techie at IRIS would be able and probably willing to migrate the data from a competitive product for you, particularly if it also uses a MS SQL database. Why not ask them?

PERTAX
We had a similar experience with another piece of software some years ago and switched to Pertax.
We have continued to use this ever since - it is user friendly and can be picked up with minimal training.
Maintenance and updates are easy - would thoroughly recommend Pertax

Iris, Iris, Iris
We have not looked back from switching from Sage (Accounts production, audit 2000) to Iris appox 8 years ago. Iris is, in my opinion, without question the market leader and its packages start at just 25 clients I believe. If you consider software an investment rather than a cost Iris is the only way to go.

An Alternative Approach
You could always consider outsourcing to some one like us, we are a UK company providing tax services since 1918.
We would do all the work and you would have access to tax software free of charge either remotely or installed at your site.
We would carryout the data migration for you.
Offer a fixed price per return (based on your service requirements).

This way you have no upfront costs, no annual licence fees, no support issues, etc. If this may be of interest you can email me at [email protected].

May?
Well the most recent thing we've had through from Sage for our stuff gives a release date of April 2008 which is OK, although that covers a range. Our first Returns usually pop out the laser around 2-3 weeks into the tax-year and I can restrain myself to the end of the month if needs be.

I understand a bit of slippage with the number of changes but I'd be cross if their stated date of April actually turned out to be end-May and perhaps our Sage visitor can tell us how solid the April release date is.

Same situation
I find myself in a similar position. We've got only slightly less at 720 or so and have been using this system ever since it was IRIS (then Apex, then SAGE). When Sage swallowed a number of TR preparation software products it used the IRIS/Apex system rather than Hartley or the others.

Having bought it some years ago, it still costs (£1,400 or so) for an annual license and update and yes it does things in a strange way sometimes. But I've grown accustomed to its ways and I know no other really. Nearly everyone I speak to, prefers the system they first used because that's just the way human beings are. I'd quite like the detached viewpoint of someone who has used a number of different systems for 2 or 3 years each.

To transfer allegiance would require (a) a learning curve to get everyone used to the new product, (b) a data transfer process which would give me some qualms and lead me to spend additional time checking that what I was relying on was valid, (c) the ability to flip back and see what went into the 2005 Return or run off a copy of the 2003 Return if I had a mind to and (d) a worthwhile saving.

Right now I'm content with Sage, the helpline is staffed by pleasant Mancunians still and I don't begrudge them the money - at £2/client it's not that fierce. But on a brass tacks basis - what does IRIS cost for its Tax Module? And does data transfer work?

What has volume got to do with it?
People are suggesting Iris for high volume users. Why? If a package submits one return well then it can submit 800 just as easily.

We use Tax assistant by Drummhor to file over 500 TR's - works like a dream with importing from VT accounts.

I used Iris in my previous position - a good product but a VT/Tax Assistant combination is much better value for money.

Have a look at MYOB PerTAX.....
We have been using MYOB PerTAX for the last 5 years without any problems - easy to use, intuitive and good reporting. The releases are always available around the begining of April without fail and we are now looking forward a newly designed front end offering a lot more funtionality.

We prepare more than 2000 returns and submit around 90% using the FBI module.

PerTAX is well worth a look and a demonstration. We dont have any plans to look elsewhere.

Sage delivery schedule
Hi, I can understand why there might be a concern over delivery this year, given the volume of change that software houses are having to deal with and I thought it would be worth outlining the official Sage position.

In fact your original posting does not accurately reflect Sage’s 2007/08 software release schedule. We are actively planning the release of Sage Taxation v11.0 to be available to customers at the start of the new tax year. The testing phase is now well under way and both internal and external testing will continue up until the point of release.

The main theme to the release is delivering compliance with legislation and changes arising from the Carter report. We have also taken the opportunity around the introduction of the new SA100 forms to introduce more simplification and flexibility into the Tax Return finalisation process to make the software more intuitive.

The changes to the compliance regime this year are the greatest we have seen since the introduction of Self Assessment itself and we will closely monitor customer feedback to ensure that quality meets customer expectations.

If you would like any further information, please feel free to give me a call on my direct line, which is 0161 868 4884.

Andy Laver
Taxation Product Manager
Sage Accountants Division

Digita
I used Sage (when it was HARTLEY) and fell out when they hiked the fees. Also, in my opinion,the product deteriorated once David Hartley was no longer in charge.

I can recommend Digita - I am a sole practioner and use Tax, CoTax and AccountsPro.

Not the cheapest but I have found them to be professional and their support is excellent.

What planet are you on ?
How can you complete 800 personal tax returns a year and not be aware of IRIS? Most of us who use this website use software to prepare tax returns. More of us will have experience of IRIS, the market leader, than of any other software.

It is the market leader because it is an excellent, well-developed and comprehensive package. The main reason why people use other packages - PTP, Digita, etc. - is that they are cheaper for small numbers of tax returns, not better. With your volume, you can justify the cost of IRIS and if Sage is running true to form, you may find IRIS is cheaper than Sage.

I am not sure what you mean by Sage accounting - book-keeping as in Sage 50 or final accounts as in Sage Accounts Production. If the latter, IRIS Accounts Production is fully integrated via Business Tax to Personal Tax and with various modules such as Practice Management, Time & Fees, etc.