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AKM Helpdesk
Last issue we told you about our newest IMS offering for managing customer communications.
We now have a website dedicated to this product which will give you loads of information of how it works, what features it has, what it looks like and most importantly, costs.
I would encourage you to take a look via the link below and see how AKM Helpdesk could help your business improve its communication and task efficiency with your customers. We have even created an online demo version of AKM Helpdesk which you can play with and see how easy it is to configure and ultimately use.
If you would like to know more about AKM Helpdesk or are interested in implementing the software within your business, then please contact Tammy on 0870 0429076 or tammy@akm-it.co.uk.
www.akm-it.co.uk/helpdesk
Before Payroll Year End - Steps you should take now
The importance of preparing early for Year End can't be over estimated. Many of the problems that our customers experience can be eliminated by early preparation.
Step 1 - Ensure your systems meet the required specifications
The new tax year update program is only compatible with the following operating systems:
- Microsoft® Windows 2000
- Microsoft® Windows XP
- Microsoft® Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft® Windows Vista
Important: Microsoft® Windows 95, 98, ME and NT are no longer supported by Sage Payroll. If you're currently using one of these operating systems, please ensure you upgrade prior to installing the new tax year update.
The PC on which you intend to run the new tax year update should also meet the following recommended system requirements:
- IBM compatible with a Pentium 2GHZ processor or above.
- At least 512MB of RAM.
- 500MB or more of free hard disk space.
- A CD ROM drive.
- An SGVA monitor with minimum 1024x768 screen area and colour settings at 24-bit true colour.
If you are planning to submit Year End returns online, you'll need an internet connection on the PC on which you run Sage Payroll, and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) require you to be using Internet Explorer v6 or above, or Netscape Navigator v5.5 or above.
Step 2 - Check which version of Sage Payroll you are using
To ensure your calculations of tax and national insurance are correct, it is important that you are using the correct program for the 2006/2007 tax year. Check now to avoid any problems at Year End.
To check your program version, open the Help menu then choose About. If you're using Instant Payroll v11, click Tools and then My Instant Payroll. The version number should match one of the following:
- Instant Payroll v11.04.xx or v11.05.xx
- Sage Payroll v8.12.xx, v8.13.xx or v8.14.xx
- Sage Payroll v10.08.xx, v10.09.xx or v10.10.xx
- Sage Payroll v11.04.xx, v11.05.xx or v11.06.xx
- Sage Payroll v12.01.xx, v12.02.xx or v12.03.xx
- Sage 50 Payroll 2007 v13.00.xx
Note: The 'xx' in the version number refers to the build of the program. Providing your program shows the first three or four digits, for example 12.01, you're using the correct program for the 2006/2007 tax year.
If you are not using any of these versions, please contact us by:
Step 3 - Check your tax parameters are up to date
In May 2006 you needed to manually amend your tax parameters in line with new Government legislation. Make sure that this has been completed.
Step 4 - Check that you can access the support areas of www.sage.co.uk
The Sage website is a key source of information during Year End and is available to all customers with a valid SageCover contract. Before you start processing your Year End, check that you can log in. If you haven't already registered, please obtain a Sage login.
Step 5 - If you are planning to submit online for the first time, register with HMRC
If you're planning to submit your Year End returns via the Government Gateway for the first time this year, you need to register for the PAYE Online for Employers service with HMRC at least seven days before you plan to submit, although we recommend that you do so as early as possible.
To register, please visit the HMRC website and click PAYE for Employers.
Note: If you're already registered with HMRC and have previously submitted online, there's no need to re-register. If you have forgotten your User ID and/or password, visit the HMRC website and click Lost User ID? or Lost password? as appropriate.
Written confirmation of your User ID and a separate Activation PIN will be sent to you in the post by HMRC. You must activate the service within 28 days of the date shown on the Activation PIN letter. Failure to do so will mean that you need to repeat the registration process before you can submit.
You may also need to download the Sage Internet Submissions module, which will be available from the Sage website from March.
Step 6 - Order your P14/60 stationery
It is important to order P14/P60, or if you are submitting online, P60 only, stationery as early as possible. You can order this from HMRC or directly from AKM - call 0870 0429076 for further details. We also recommend that you order slightly more than you need, as you may require extra for checking print alignments.
Note: Sage Instant Payroll v11 only supports A4 laser landscape P14/60 stationery.
Step 7 - If you have received Sage 50 Payroll 2007 as part of SageCover Extra, or have purchased an upgrade, install this in advance of Year End
If you have received Sage 50 Payroll 2007 as an upgrade, we strongly recommend that you install this now. It contains a rollover feature enabling you to start processing your payroll for the new tax year before completing Year End, giving you more time to complete your Year End procedure.
In addition, you will be dispatched a Year End pack for Sage 50 Payroll 2007, which contains a Year End guide specific to that version. If you're planning to process your Year End using an older version of Sage Payroll, please refer to the User Guide folder on the Year End CD, which contains the Year End user guide for every version of Sage Payroll.
Step 8 - Register now for the Sage RSS service
This service, available to all SageCover customers, enables you to receive urgent technical information and updates from Sage, directly to your PC. For further information about RSS, how it benefits you and to register, please visit the Sage website.
Offers
Staying with the theme of Payroll, AKM have an offer with year end stationery
- 50 x P60’s @ £18.50 + vat (inc carriage)
- 10 x P60’s @ £4.40 + vat (inc postage)
- 100 x P14/P60’s @ £32.50 + vat (inc carriage)
- 50 x P14/P60’s @ £17.00 + vat (inc carriage)
- 10 x P14/P60 @ £3.75 + vat (inc postage)
How about protecting your server or key workstation from power cuts and surges with a UPS (uninterruptible Power Supply) - Belkin 1200 VA UPS @ £145.00 + vat
The Techie Bit - Office 2007
This month’s “techy bit” comes courtesy of Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition and Office 2007 Enterprise.
In last month’s article I explained about Windows Vista and its various flavours. If you thought that there were too many versions of Windows, just take a look at the following link:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/suites/FX101635841033.aspx
There are now 8 versions of Microsoft Office 2007! Key things to note are as follows:
Office Basic does not include PowerPoint! You need at least Office Standard if you require this application.
Office Home/Student does not include Outlook anymore.
An extremely useful free add on is available from Microsoft that allows you to save any office documents directly to PDF.
The Toolbars and Menus have been replaced in the majority of the applications with the following, described as the “Ribbon”.
The Home tab contains all of the general word processing tools you need to get going. The best feature of this ribbon is that it changes completely depending on what tab you click on. The only draw back to this seems to be that instead of on previous versions, the menu disappears once used, the ribbon has to be switched back to the relevant tab. For repetitive tasks, this saves a lot of clicking, but using individual features from one moment to the next generates the need to keep switching tabs!
Microsoft has now hidden many of the functions from the File menu under the Office button. This is the big round button in the top left of the ribbon.
Customisation of what would have been the toolbars is now limited to the “Quick access toolbar”, obvious features like a quick save and quick print have to be added to this, the undo and redo tools are also limited to this very small toolbar.
The main editing screen is very easy on the eye and I can highly recommend that heavy users of Office try before they buy.
Are you Legal?
The government has recently issued new legislation extending the requirement for companies and LLPs to provide certain information. In simple terms these requirements will now apply to company and LLP websites and electronic versions of all documents.
This new legislation is effective from 1 January 2007 and there are penalties for those who do not comply. (All of the following requirements for a company should be taken to also include a LLP).
There are two main disclosure requirements that affect all companies and these have applied since 1985.
1 Inclusion of name
The law requires a company’s name to appear on all business letters and other business documents including notices, official publications, cheques, bills of exchange, orders for goods, invoices and receipts.
This requirement is specifically extended to include all order forms.
2 Inclusion of other information
All company business letters and order forms must include:
- the company's place of registration (England and Wales, Scotland etc)
- the company's registered number
- the address of the registered office
Changes
The above requirements are extended to include the company’s website.
As a result, with immediate effect, a company’s website must include the company’s name, registered number, place of registration and the address of the registered office.
There is no stipulation as to where the information should appear on the website.
The second change is that the reference to any ‘document’ is extended to include that document in electronic or any other form.
Previously, there had been some doubt as to whether the term ‘business letter’ included an email. This change makes it clear that the legislation extends to emails.
Although it could be argued that not all emails are ‘business letters’ Mercia believe that the safe advice is to include the company name, place of registration and registered number and address of the registered office as part of the footer on all external emails.
A similar disclosure would be required if a website sends emails to customers on placing an order.
If you need any assistance with this, please contact us on 0870 0429076.
Customer Referrals
It is widely recognised that the way a business grows and
develops is dependant upon how that business delivers its service to its
customers.
We have been working very hard at AKM to improve our level of service
to you by introducing new initiatives and internal processes. It is our
mission to ensure that we do all that we can to guarantee that your experiences
with AKM and its team is of the highest quality and standards.
There are many of you that already recognise the services we provide
and how much of a positive impact we have on your business and its operations.
So why not share our services with your colleagues and business associates?
Every time you recommend a business to AKM for any of the services
that we can provide, we will offer you a gift of our technician's time as a thank you.
It's as simple as that, what have you got to loose?
Please see our Customer
Referral Scheme for full details.
if you would like to provide us with feedback about any of our products or services please email feedback@akm-it.co.uk or complete our anonymous feedback form
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