How good is very good We use a combination of software providers, partly so that we are not beholden to just one company and partly as we have added areas over the years, at times when the complete package was not available from just one company.
We started using Forbes in 1996 and initially this was just for SA and partnership returns. CT returns were prepared using Forbes from around 1999 and we also use it for Trust returns. We also use the P11d software and have done so for a number of years.
The best thing about the system is the fact that there is one price for the software regardless of number of clients. We do about 390 SA returns and about 160 CT returns. I would guess that the cost from one of the larger suppliers would be much more.
The client database that manages it is pretty flexible and we can track the progress fairly easily.
In addition, the response to queries is always very good, even at the turn of the tax year when they are no doubt frantically tweaking the software for the latest HMRC changes. As these are dealt with by just a few individuals, the service tends to be much better than some companies, such as Sage, where the person in charge of our Accounts production product is sometimes telling the sage personnel how to do things when they attempt to go about things the wrong way.
It is also very easy to use, even the 2008 return!
This year the final product was a bit later than last year, but given the extraordinary amount of changes, that is not at all surprising.
I would be tempted to use the Forbes accounts production, apart from the staff resistance to change from Sage accounts production, having spent many years, since it was Apex rather than Sage, in getting to know all of the software's idiosyncracies. This would improve the time taken to prepare the returns, as it avoids the re-input of accounts figures, but as the system is so easy to use, this takes little time anyway.
One more We have used Forbes Software for over 10 years - it copes with our 370+ SA returns, including partnerships etc. and there is no additional cost for having over a certain number of clients which some providers charge. Also copes with all our CT returns.
Also has a good client database to monitor progress of returns.
My answers
How good is very good
We use a combination of software providers, partly so that we are not beholden to just one company and partly as we have added areas over the years, at times when the complete package was not available from just one company.
We started using Forbes in 1996 and initially this was just for SA and partnership returns. CT returns were prepared using Forbes from around 1999 and we also use it for Trust returns. We also use the P11d software and have done so for a number of years.
The best thing about the system is the fact that there is one price for the software regardless of number of clients. We do about 390 SA returns and about 160 CT returns. I would guess that the cost from one of the larger suppliers would be much more.
The client database that manages it is pretty flexible and we can track the progress fairly easily.
In addition, the response to queries is always very good, even at the turn of the tax year when they are no doubt frantically tweaking the software for the latest HMRC changes. As these are dealt with by just a few individuals, the service tends to be much better than some companies, such as Sage, where the person in charge of our Accounts production product is sometimes telling the sage personnel how to do things when they attempt to go about things the wrong way.
It is also very easy to use, even the 2008 return!
This year the final product was a bit later than last year, but given the extraordinary amount of changes, that is not at all surprising.
I would be tempted to use the Forbes accounts production, apart from the staff resistance to change from Sage accounts production, having spent many years, since it was Apex rather than Sage, in getting to know all of the software's idiosyncracies. This would improve the time taken to prepare the returns, as it avoids the re-input of accounts figures, but as the system is so easy to use, this takes little time anyway.
One more
We have used Forbes Software for over 10 years - it copes with our 370+ SA returns, including partnerships etc. and there is no additional cost for having over a certain number of clients which some providers charge. Also copes with all our CT returns.
Also has a good client database to monitor progress of returns.