Sage 50 Payroll – the 2020/21 tax year software update is available now.

To check if you have installed it, in your Sage Payroll, go to Help, then About and check your version is 26.

If it’s not, you need to install the update as soon as possible to ensure you are using the correct legislation for the new tax year.

Changes to the NMW rates – From 1^st April 2020 the national minimum wage (NMW) rates are increasing.  There are the minimum rates most employees are entitled to.  You can use the minimum wage check option to check you are paying your employees the correct rates.

Employment allowance changes – from April 2020, HMRC are introducing new rules and processes for claiming employment allowance.  Remember to check if you are still eligible or if you are now eligible.

If you would any more information on the new Sage Payroll update or help with the Payroll year end process please do not hesitate to contact us

When you run a report in Sage 50cloud Accounts V26.1 and below, the date criteria defaults to run up to 31/12/2019.

As that date has now passed, you must ensure you are using the latest version of Sage 50cloud Accounts, which includes an extended date range criteria up to 31/12/2050.

To Check your version

1. Open Sage 50cloud Accounts.
2. On the menu bar click Help, then click About.
3. In the Program Detail, check the version number.

If you are using v26.01 or below, you must upgrade to the latest version.

If the dates still defaults to 2019 after installing v26.02, please follow the steps below:

Date still defaults to 2019

If the date still defaults to 2019 after you install the update, it is recommended that you follow the steps below

Standard Reports

Restore the ‘reports and layouts only backups’ (this can be found by visiting Sage’s online help centre and going to article 45577).  This will refresh the default reports and layouts in your software without overwriting your data or customised documents.

Customised reports

If the issue occurs on reports or layouts that have been customised, you must follow the steps below:

1. Select the document you want to amend, then click Edit.
2. Click Report, then click Criteria.
3. Select your date criteria, for example INVOICE_DATE, then click Modify.
4. Select Present, from the Status drop-down.
5. Click OK.
6. Select the date criteria, then click Modify.
7. Select Enable, from the status drop-down.
8. Click OK, then click OK.
9. Click File, then click Exit.

If you would like help upgrading your program or restoring a reports and layouts only backup or amending a customised report any other queries or problems with your Sage Accounts etc. or would like a quote or to purchase an upgrade please contact us

The Sage 50cloud Payroll update that is due in early February will include the following features and improvements.

Employment allowance changes – from April 2020, HMRC are introducing new rules and processes for claiming employment allowance.  Sage 50cloud Payroll will include an option to apply for the employment allowance.

Class 1A NIC’s on termination payments – from 6^th April 2020 employer NICs will be introduced on termination payments above £30,000.  There will be no employee’s NIC on these payments.  In the new tax year you can select the Class 1A NICs checkbox on the pay element setup to deal with the payment above £30,000.

Parental bereavement leave and pay – the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 introduces a new employment right to Parental Bereavement Leave (PBL) and an entitlement to Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (SPBP) for any qualifying parent who loses a child under the age of 18 or who suffers a still birth from 24 weeks of pregnancy.  The new entitlement will apply to deaths from 6^th April 2020.

Off-payroll working rules – if a worker is assessed to be outside the IR35 rules then they are classed as a deemed employee, which means that although tax and NICs should be deducted, they are not entitled to any other employee benefits.  You will be able to set an employee’s type as deemed and the FPS notifies HMRC of this.

Zero emissions mileage for company cars – a new Zero Emissions Mileage field will be added so that the relevant value can be recorded and used when establishing the appropriate percentage used to calculate the car cash equivalent for vehicles partly powered by electricity.

Company car calculation – an easier way for employers who payroll their company cars in Sage 50cloud Payroll.  You will be able to calculate the taxable cash equivalent of the company car for the current tax year, in addition to the previous year rather than manually calculating the relevant values to include in the FPS.

Holiday pay Reference period changes – from April 2020, the holiday pay reference period will be lengthened from 12 to 52 weeks.

Budget 2020 – an update will be released to include the relevant legislation changes for the 2020/2021 tax year after the budget is announced on 11^th March.

If you would any more information on the new Sage Payroll update please do not hesitate to contact us on:-

Telephone        01691 684011/654545

Or

Email:              [email protected]

Sage has a wide range of programs to help you run your business and pay your employees, from cloud or desktop programs.

Sage Business Cloud Accounting Start is a cloud solution for simple businesses which are mainly cash in and cash out. Sage Business Cloud Accounting is a much more powerful cloud accounting solution for bigger and/or more complicated businesses.  Sage 50cloud Essentials is a simple desktop accounting solution, connected to the cloud, Sage 50cloud Standard has more features and Sage 50cloud Professional has in-depth stock, more than 2 users etc.

Sage Business Cloud Payroll is a cloud based payroll program for up to 25 employees.  Sage Instant Payroll a simple desktop program for up to 10 employees.   Sage 50cloud Payroll is a desktop payroll which deals with all your payroll needs for any number of employees.

If you would like more details of what Sage solution is best for you and your business or would like a demonstration or to order a program please contact us

Improved data fixing – while data errors are rare, Sage 50coloud Accounts improvements makes it easier to fix them, or to restore your last error free backup.

No-deal Brexit – To give you peace of mind, Sage 50cloud Accounts has in built-in functionality which can be switched on if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

CIS reverse charge – Sage 50cloud Accounts has new tax codes to help comply with the new construction industry reverse charge rules coming into effect in October 2020.

Sage Drive – General improvements to speed and stability.

If you would like more details of what Sage 50cloud Accounts V26 can do for you or a demonstration or to order the program please contact us

Once you are using Sage 50cloud Payroll V25.01, to ensure your software is fully up to date, you should install the Sage 50cloud Payroll V25.02.256 update.

Before installing the update you need to ensure that you have full administration rights, and all Windows updates have been installed.

1. In Sage 50cloud Payroll, click Help then click About.
2. Make a note of the Program Directory.
3. Close Sage 50cloud Payroll.
4. Go to sage.co.uk/payrollupdates and there will be a link to download Sage 50cloud Payroll V25.02.256, depending on your browser the update downloads, or click Save.
5. To begin the installation, locate then double-click exe.
6. Click Accept Licence.
7. Check the path is the same as the program directory you noted earlier, then click Yes.

If the path is not the same, then click No and Yes and browse to the program directory you noted, click Payroll.exe, then click Open.

8. When the installation completes, click OK.