We want to warn you of a little-advertised change to the way returns are submitted to HMRC and how this might affect your business.
From 14th February this year, the current Government Gateway system will be decommissioned and replaced by a brand new system developed by HMRC.
This new setup will not recognise certain older versions of Sage software, which means you might need an upgrade to ensure that online Sage submissions can still be integrated with HMRC.
Digital submissions and services that currently integrate with Government Gateway include:
- VAT Returns
- EC Sales Lists
- CIS Returns
- CIS Subcontractor Validations
- RTI Submissions
- IR Secure Mailbox
If your business uses Sage 50 Accounts software, you won’t be able to integrate information with HMRC if using certain older versions. The supported version is Sage 50 Accounts v24, so if you have v23 or below, you’ll need to upgrade. It’s possible that you will be entitled to a free upgrade – check your subscription details to find out more. Sage 50 Payroll is compliant with the new system, so long as it’s updated to the 2017/2018 tax year. New, compliant versions of Sage 200c Professional and Sage 200c Standard have also been released. Older versions of Sage 200 will need to be upgraded. So, what happens if you don’t upgrade by 14th February? Don’t worry, your system won’t melt down. It just means you’ll have to submit manually, through the HMRC website. To recap, these are the supported versions of Sage Software:
- Sage 50 Accounts v24
- Sage 50 Payroll / Instant Payroll, updated for 2017/2018 tax year
- Sage 200c Professional and Sage 200c Standard.
If you have these versions, you won’t have to do anything when the switchover happens, as services will continue to integrate seamlessly. We hope you have a smooth transition when the changes come into effect. But if you have any concerns over this, or any other bookkeeping or payroll issue, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01892 559480.
