Have you come across Zaptax – an HMRC-recognised app designed to “help make submitting self assessment tax returns quicker and easier”.
The Zaptax website says “Do you really need an accountant?”
Has anyone had any experience of using this?
Replies (19)
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Probably nothing wrong with the app
There is probably a problem with the people using them who think it is easier than putting brain into gear.
We handle more HMRC enquiries for people who have submitted their own tax return (incorrectly) than any other type of enquiry.
AccountingWeb Evaluation
As it is free to use up to point of submission, would it not make sense for someone at AccountingWeb to review it and report back? Definitely makes more sense than asking this question in January.
Particular concerns
"Officially recognised" by HMRC made to sound like an endorsement. It just means it meets their criteria for electronic returns.
Ensures you don't miss your allowances, but how does it check the user's understanding of those allowances? Some clients struggle with face-to-face explanations tailored to their knowledge.
Guaranteed submissions 100% correct. This is impossible to guarantee, because it depends on the user making the entries correctly. Expect this to be bounded by caveats or simply to mean "will submit exactly what you enter" which is a meaningless guarantee.
I'd like to know more about their guarantee that your submission will be 100% correct.
I suspect this claim is just a guarantee that it will accurately report the figures you enter ... which is misleading.
Good points, Stepurhan
I'll not bother with the guaranteed submissions 100% correct, as that is impossible to deliver, but I think I'll put the HMRC reference on our website. Actually, why don't we all put 'Officially recognised by HMRC' on our websites? We are all 'recognised tax agents'. We do our best to ensure all allowances are claimed, but we rely on accurate information from clients to achieve this.
ps. On the sarcy side, maybe they get most of their income from handling the enquiries that result from incorrect returns?
I got curious so I read the T&C's
It says they guarantee the tax calculations are 100% correct ........ based upon the information entered. If you enter the wrong information then the maximum liability they accept is .... £20!
App versus PC
Thinking out load rather than fiddling around on a smartphone or Tablet isn't it better and easier to wait until you are in front of a PC?
If the average punter is as good as me when using a smartphone keyboard then I wouldn't rate the accuracy very high and that is before taking the lack of knowledge etc into consideration.
Why does there have to be an App for everything now? I blame the world being run by those who have a phone stuck to their person 24/7 but not a brain between the lot of them.
Clearly designed for people who think the process is trivial. Only a muppet would use their phone to complete a tax return.
Sorry Shirley - not allowed
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/terms/agents.htm
They threaten legal action against misleading claims
Thanks, Marion
Could we get around it by claiming we are 'Recognised by HMRC' and then when questioned say we were referring to our software?
Easy enough
If your affairs are easy enough to use an app, HMRC will probably agree you don't need to file a return anyway.
Guarantee
The ZAPTAX Guarantee:
If you are a registered user who has paid all applicable service fees and complied with the EULA and you pay an HMRC penalty and/or interest solely because of a calculation error on a submission prepared for you using ZAPTAX, and not as a result of, among other things, your failure to enter all required information accurately, wilful or fraudulent omission or inclusion of information on your tax return, misclassification of information, or failure to file an amended return to avoid or reduce an applicable penalty/interest after we have announced updates or corrections to ZAPTAX in time for you to file an amended return, then we will pay you the amount of the HMRC penalty and/or interest paid by you. In this regard, you are solely responsible for keeping us apprised promptly of any change in your email address, mailing address and/or phone number so that you can be notified of such updates or corrections. You are responsible for paying any additional tax liability you may owe and providing any other information we reasonably request to validate your claim and in order to be entitled you must notify us within 30 days of your receiving notification of such penalty and/or interest.
Another UK 1st for ZAPTAX. Peace of mind for you.
Peace of mind? They've not guaranteed a damn thing!
In other words IF you enter it call correctly they guarantee the CALCULATION
I'm now redundant and can take early retirement!
Guarantees are worthless
Just like the first (and only) endowment policy that I took out, which gave me a "guaranteed" maturity sum. But in the small print (which had not been brought to my attention) that guarantee was dependent upon my taking whatever action was recommended by the provider - such as, on the first review, asking me to more than double the premium. Still, it turned out to be a nice little earner as I was rewarded with a healthy compensation payment.
Perhaps all the free loaders who have been posting on here this month should sign up for this app - after all it is guaranteed.
Freeloaders
Perhaps all the free loaders who have been posting on here this month should sign up for this app - after all it is guaranteed.
I'd go with that and add indignant ones to it