2010 April

Further Employers CD Rom update

Posted by: edwinsmith on April 30th, 2010

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) produced an update in March (V2.0.2) which solved the majority of problems customers had been experiencing with the Employers CD Rom and have now produced a further update in April (V2.0.3) which also solves one further issue that has been identified.

If you haven’t yet installed the March update, then you can simply install the April one to solve all known issues. It is recommended that you do this regardless of whether you have experienced any problems or if the problems you've experienced differ from those below.

The update to the 2010 Employers CD-ROM is available on the HRMC website and should be installed by all users of this product who:

- Haven’t installed the March update that was previously available to download from our website; or

- Have installed the March update, but are seeing on-screen messages advising that the 2010 CD-ROM may be out of date. This is not the case and you should not contact the Employer Orderline as the message recommends. You can simply ignore these messages or install this latest update to remove them.

Known issues which the April 2010 update will fix

Once you've installed the April update, the following known issues should be resolved:

- the total amount of tax and National Insurance contributions due sometimes being carried forward incorrectly to the 2009-10 end-of-year summary (P35);

- problems transferring data from the 2009 CD-ROM;

- problems opening PDF forms (Windows users only); and

- on-screen messages incorrectly advising that the CD-ROM is out of date.

How to get the update

The Employer CD Rom update can be downloaded from the HMRC website and should be installed even if you haven’t encountered the above problems.

You will need to exit or close your current CD-ROM before installing the update.

If you've entered any data for the start of the new tax year, 2010-11, this will be deleted. You will need to re-enter it after applying the update and so this update should be installed as soon as possible.

Getting an update if you don't have internet access

If the computer on which with your CD-ROM is installed doesn't have internet access then you can do either of the following:

- download the April update on a different machine and copy it to the relevant computer (fastest solution)

- call the Employer Orderline who will post you the update on disc.

If you've already sent in your 2009-10 Employer Annual Return

You should still download and install the April 2010 update. What you do next will depend on whether your Employer Annual Return was accepted or rejected.

If your return was originally rejected then you can use the CD-ROM again to file your return. You need to do this before 19 May 2010. If your return was accepted please contact the Online Services Helpdesk on 0845 60 55 999 who can then tell you the action you may need to take.

Further help and guidance is provided on the HMRC website or alternatively please contact us.

Filed under: PAYE

HMRC Fact Sheets For New Compliance Checks

Posted by: edwinsmith on April 26th, 2010

From 1 April 2010, HMRC will have one set of powers regarding compliance checks, covering:

visits to business premises to inspect the premises, assets and records
asking tax payers and third parties for information and documents.

The new measures also provide new time limits for assessment and claims and new rights for taxpayers.

HMRC have published a series of fact sheets to explain the new framework.

Filed under: PAYE, Tax, VAT

Blank page displayed when trying to view HMRC online statements

Posted by: edwinsmith on April 23rd, 2010

When trying to view pdf information on the HMRC website you may be presented with a blank page instead of the required information. This occurs when trying to view submitted VAT returns, P60 forms etc.

HMRC are aware of this and have provided 4 possible solutions on their website however for ease of use, the solutions are detailed below.

Solution 1 – Do not save encrypted pages to disk

In Internet Explorer for Windows:

• go to Tools - Internet Options

• Advanced tab

• under Security, ensure the ‘Do not save encrypted pages to disk’ is checked

• click Ok

Solution 2 - Disable 'view in browser' feature

Try disabling the 'View In Browser' or 'Web Browser Integration' feature in your Adobe Acrobat viewer (for plug-in and standard version). Doing this will force your Acrobat viewer to display PDF outside your browser in a separate window.

• open Acrobat/Adobe Reader

• go to Edit - Preferences

• go to Internet

• uncheck ‘Display PDF in browser’

• click

• close Acrobat

Solution 3 - Download PDF to hard drive

In Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later:

• Right-click (Windows) or hold down the mouse button (Mac OS) on the link to the PDF file, and then choose Save Target As from the pop-up menu.

• In the Save As dialog box, specify a name and location for the PDF file, and then click Save.

• Choose All Files from the Files of Type pop-up menu.

• Select the PDF file you saved in step 2 and click Open. The Acrobat viewer should open the PDF file inside the browser window.

• If the PDF doesn’t load inside the browser then locate the saved file on the PC and double-click to open in Adobe.

Note: If the viewer displays only a blank screen or returns an error after you've downloaded a PDF file to your hard disk, the viewer or the PDF file may be damaged. Exit the browser, restart the viewer, and try to open an Acrobat Online Guide from the viewer's Help menu. If the viewer can't display an online guide, the viewer itself may be damaged and you should contact Acrobat Technical Support. If the viewer correctly displays the online guide, try opening the PDF file you downloaded. If the viewer can display the downloaded PDF file, the PDF file isn't damaged; rather, your browser isn't working with the Acrobat plug-in. If the viewer still displays only a blank screen or returns an error, the PDF file is probably damaged.

Solution 4 - Check Security Options

In Internet Explorer for Windows:

• exit from Internet Explorer and your Acrobat viewer

• start Internet Explorer

• choose Tools > Internet Options and click the Security tab

• choose the appropriate Web content zone for the type of PDF file you're trying to open (for example: Internet or Local Intranet)

• click Custom Level to specify the security setting for this zone

• select Enable for the options labelled 'Download unsigned ActiveX controls' and 'Initialize and script ActiveX Controls not marked as safe'

• click OK and then click OK again

In Internet Explorer for Mac OS:

• Choose Edit - Preferences.

• Click Ratings and then click Options.

• Select the option labelled 'User Can See Sites That Have No Rating,' and click OK. Contact Microsoft for more information on which security settings affect Internet Explorer's ability to download files.

Should you be unable to resolve this issue, you may want to consider downloading Firefox or Opera as an alternative web browser.

Filed under: PAYE, Tax, VAT

PAYE form P35 end of year returns question 6

Posted by: edwinsmith on April 19th, 2010

The first part of question 6 on the Employer Annual Return P35 form asks ‘Are you a Service Company?’ Please note that HMRC’s definition of a ‘Service Company’ for the purposes of question 6 includes a limited company, a limited liability partnership or a partnership (but not a sole trader) which provides personal services to third parties.

This question should be answered ‘yes’ if:

- An individual performed services (intellectual, manual or a mixture of the two) for a client or clients, and

- The services were provided under contract between the client and the service company of which at any time during the tax year, the individual performing the services was a shareholder or partner, and

- The service company’s income was, at any time during the tax year, derived wholly or mainly (that is, more than half of it) from the services performed by the shareholders or partners personally.

The second part of this question, ‘if ‘yes’, have you operated the Intermediaries legislation (sometimes know as IR35) or the Managed Service Companies legislation?’, should only be answered ‘yes’ if:

- income has been treated as deemed employment income and PAYE/NICs deducted in accordance with the Managed Service Company or Intermediaries legislation (IR35), or

- an engagement is within the IR35 rules but the deemed payment is nil because sufficient amounts of employment income has been paid.

Further help can be obtained from a HMRC helpsheet and employer guidance on page 77. Alternatively please contact us at Edwin Smith.

Filed under: PAYE

Payroll software updates

Posted by: edwinsmith on April 16th, 2010

If you run your payroll using a software package you should ensure that you have installed the latest update. If your software has an automatic update facility, then it may have been updated already. Other software providers make the update available as a download on their website or a CD Rom sent to you automatically or by request.

Although many of the personal allowances and rates have remained the same, the new 50% tax band is introduced from 6 April 2010 and the statutory maternity pay rates have also been updated. Installing the updates will not only change these items but will also ensure that you are able to run the 2009/2010 year end procedures.

If you use the HMRC Employers CD Rom to process your payroll, you should ensure that you are using the most up to date version and have installed the latest update issued in March 2010 as reported in our previous article.

Filed under: PAYE

Employers Who Don’t Need To Make Year-end Returns (form P35)

Posted by: edwinsmith on April 8th, 2010

For 2009/10, employers may not need to complete an employer year-end return but HMRC must be informed.

An Employer Annual Return form P35 is not required only if you have not had to maintain any P11 deductions working sheets during the tax year, therefore a nil P35 form. One reason for this is if no earnings have been paid in the year through that particular payroll.

You may receive unnecessary reminders or penalty notices if you do not tell HMRC that you will not be completing a 2009/10 P35. HMRC strongly recommends that you make the notification online, as it is quicker, cheaper and easier than writing or calling.

Within the online notification you will need to confirm either that you will be submitting form P11D(b) by 6 July 2010 or that no form P11D(b) is due.

We can notify HMRC online on behalf of clients if required so please contact us if this will be of use or if you have any questions.

Filed under: PAYE

Employers CD Rom Update March 2010

Posted by: edwinsmith on April 7th, 2010

Some users have experienced problems with the 2010 Employer CD-ROM. HMRC have produced a March 2010 CD-ROM update (V2.0.2) that you can download or order and it is recommended that you do this whether or not you have experienced any problems or if the problems you've experienced differ from those below. The March update will provide better error reporting which will make it easier for the helpdesk to help you should the need arise.

Known issues which the March 2010 update will fix

Once you've installed the March update the following known issues should be resolved:

- the total amount of tax and National Insurance contributions due sometimes being carried forward incorrectly to the 2009-10 end-of-year summary (P35)

- problems transferring data from the 2009 CD-ROM

- problems opening PDF forms (Windows users only)

However, as previously mentioned, please still install the update even if you haven't encountered these problems.

How to get the update

The update can be downloaded from the HMRC website.

You will need to exit or close your current CD-ROM before installing the update. And once you've installed it, you can continue using the CD-ROM with any 2009-10 data already entered – the update should fix all of the problems mentioned above.

If you've entered any data for the start of the new tax year, 2010-11, this will be deleted. You will need to re-enter it after applying the March update so this update should be installed as soon as possible.

Getting an update if you don't have internet access

If the computer on which with your CD-ROM is installed doesn't have internet access then you can do either of the following:

- download the March update on a different machine and copy it to the relevant computer (fastest solution)

- call the Employer Orderline who will post you the update on disc.

If you've already sent in your 2009-10 Employer Annual Return

You should still download and install the March 2010 update. What you do next will depend on whether your Employer Annual Return was accepted or rejected.

If your return was originally rejected then you can use the CD-ROM again to file your return. You need to do this before 19 May 2010.

If your return was accepted please contact the Online Services Helpdesk on 0845 60 55 999 who can then tell you the action you may need to take.

Further help and guidance is provided on the HMRC website or alternatively please contact us.

Filed under: PAYE

Accountants Reading

Further Employers CD Rom update

HMRC Fact Sheets For New Compliance Checks

Blank page displayed when trying to view HMRC online statements

Solution 1 – Do not save encrypted pages to disk

Solution 2 - Disable 'view in browser' feature

Solution 3 - Download PDF to hard drive

Solution 4 - Check Security Options

PAYE form P35 end of year returns question 6

Payroll software updates

Employers Who Don’t Need To Make Year-end Returns (form P35)

Employers CD Rom Update March 2010

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