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9am Lowdown: Old browsers won’t be able to use HMRC online

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8th Sep 2015
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Morning all. Here’s the news.

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Old browsers won’t be able to use HMRC online

Businesses using old browsers using the SSLv3 protocol will no longer be able to connect to HMRC online services from 30 September 2015.

For the majority of online customers this will mean no change. SSLv3 is a security protocol that is meant to provide secure communication. But it is considered insecure and is no longer supported by many browsers.

“You should ensure your browser (or other software) is capable of using and configured to use ‘Transport Layer Security’ (TLS) 1.0 or above, (TLS 1.1 and 1.2),” advises HMRC.

If you are uncertain about the type of secure connection your browser or other software can support, you can check it here.

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Frustrated accountants using the gig economy

Young accountants frustrated with lack of development are turning toward the ‘gig economy’, according to AccountingWEB US.

 The gig economy refers to websites like Odesk and Elance, where people can offer their services as independent contractors. “Partners and staffers alike, feeling stifled and underused at their current firms, are finding a broad array of new opportunities at other firms,” writes Rick Telberg. “And where they can’t find the right position at another firm, they are creating their own.”

Telberg recounts the story of Derek Davis, a L.A. based accountant, who left a career at a Big Four firm to start his own practice. “But his first hire at the new firm wasn’t an assistant, nor was his first partner another CPA. Instead, Davis teamed with a software designer and didn’t even open an office, they launched an iPhone app.”

According to Telberg, the shift to the gig economy is being exacerbated by management. Young employees frustrations aren’t being remedied. “A managing partner at a midsized firm in Florida said his firm has never offered mentoring, coaching or leadership development,” says Telberg. “And he doesn’t plan to. To him, that’s the responsibility of the employee. He tells staffers, ‘Be willing to provide your own career advancement’.”

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Xero and iZettle announce partnership

For those considering a switch to Xero, the cloud accounting firm has upped its cooperation with iZettle, a mobile payments company focussing on small businesses.

Small businesses that sign up to Xero and iZettle will get free Xero for three months, a basic iZettle card reader and no fee on the first £1,000 of transactions.

There’s also the option to upgrade to iZettle’s bluetooth reader that accepts Apple Pay and contactless payments.

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By accountsman
27th Sep 2015 12:33

SSL vs TLS

So, seriously, will this put me out of business? My computer is running on Windows 7 and IE11. The IE11 TLS 1.0 1.1 and 1.2 checkboxes ticked, but my machine reports as 'bad' by the online test. I am not techy and cannot change my systems. Too many programs and client records from the XP era requiring backwards compatibility which I currently have.

TaxCalc says its program will be submitting ("attempting to submit") under TLS, but I have no idea if that will work if my machine is 'bad! Does anybody know the reality of what will happen in these circumstances?

Update 27th Sept. I managed to change the settings, unticked all SSL and ticked just TLS 1.2 and restarted with the firewall off as well (one site said this necessary). It still failed the test. Will try a live Return this week. If blocked, biz down the pan potentially; and what about all the personal HMRC 'customers' with their whole range of PC's having to face this on the run up to January 31st? Meltdown?

Thanks (0)