Sage Payroll trial , one-off backup to export

Ways of converting Sage to Brightpay or Moneysoft

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As part of new client's handover we received Sage Payroll backup. We use Brightpay bureau subs for our payrolls and ideally not looking to join sage. Previously there used to be a download link for trial version. Does anyone know any way of converting sage data to brigthpay or moneysoft. The backup is for 18/19 and it's needed for the YE only. Any ideas would be highly appreciated. We have tried asking the previous accountants for printed records, however they demanded £100admin fee for those. Many thanks

Replies (7)

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By Moonbeam
29th Oct 2019 14:44

If I still used Sage payroll I might quote you £50+VAT. But it's a bit of a phaff so I can see why the other firm would charge £100+VAT.

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panda ketteringUK
By ketteringUK
29th Oct 2019 18:11

I don't think it should be chargeable at all since all can be exported as PDF in 10-15 minutes. Part of a professional courtesy from one accountancy firm to the other? In order to get the professional clearance we had to refer to ICAEW Code of Ethics...

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By ScribbleD
29th Oct 2019 14:49

I'm no expert but I don't think you can just convert a backup from Sage for BP or MS. Could you ask your client to give you the employees payroll details in CSV format? Most payroll providers allow for CSV imports.

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JCACE
By jcace
29th Oct 2019 23:21

Take a look at https://www.brightpay.co.uk/docs/19-20/moving-to-brightpay-from-another-...
That gives you instructions for how to import from csv files from Sage, but it will require the info to be exported in the first place - shouldn't be onerous for previous accountant, no printing involved.
If you do this for 18/19, you should have the info you need.

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By BlueNose1812
31st Oct 2019 10:34

Brightpay lets you import data from an FPS. Ask them for that.

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By AdShawBPR
31st Oct 2019 11:26

On the face of it, I don't think an admin fee is acceptable for producing a report of this nature in these circumstances. In my view a backup should not be considered a proper handover of useful information because it's only of use to someone with the same software - which you don't have. I'd go back and say the same to the previous accountant. If they're an ICAEW member, ICAEW has a helpsheet on this which states that such a fee should not normally be charged unless there is good reason to the contrary such as a significant amount of work. having said that, while it may be irritating, £100 may be worth paying to avoid further hassle on your part.

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By pauljohnston
31st Oct 2019 11:45

I dont feel that an admin fee is due but you need to get on so can I suggest you bite 1/2 of the cost. Also see my final paragraph

Go back to the previous accountant and say that you dont feel they should charge what is essentially handover information but you attach a cheque for £60 to cover 50% of their fee and tell them exactly what you want in details.

I have to say we advise clients that there will be a fee for information requests received 3 months after the disengagement letter date. The reason is because a request for info will often arrive late Jan or it is "urgent".

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