E-Minister explains Government Payroll plans to Access Accounting

E-Minister Patricia Hewitt has explained the Governments payroll plans to Access Accounting Ltd, producers of the top selling Access Payroll package.

In a comprehensive response to Access Accountings Corporate Projects Manager Kevin Misselbrook, she reveals that extra help with payroll would be provided through an extension of the Inland Revenues New Employers Support Initiative (NESI) helpline scheme. This was instead of the voucher scheme initially proposed in the consultation paper 'Developing a Payroll Service for Small Employers.

Access reduced the entry cost of Payroll from 250 to 100 to support the voucher scheme and the entry price remains at 100 despite withdrawal of the vouchers.

The E-Minister added that the Government took the decision not to proceed with the voucher scheme because of the results of the consultation and the complementary market research commissioned. This indicated that the proposed payroll voucher scheme did not go far enough in providing the on-going face-to-face assistance that new employers said they wanted.

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She went on to say there is already a vast range of payroll goods and services available in the market place. This means that small businesses are able to choose for themselves the product that best meets their needs, from, for example, using a payroll bureau or by purchasing IT based payroll packages

She said that the more pressing concern for small business, which the consultation highlighted, was ease of use in understanding the regulations relating to payroll. In view of this, it was decided that the Inland Revenue were best equipped to provide this support by an extension of NESI which offers a national helpline for new employers, locally based Business Support Teams and one-to-one visits, including a check of payroll systems to employers.

The response concluded by saying the expansion of NESI will provide comprehensive payroll assistance to small businesses. By building on an existing framework, Patricia Hewitt says we are avoiding a duplication of effort and saving on the high administrative costs associated with the voucher scheme (such as those relating to the issuing and redeeming of vouchers and the attendant policing and monitoring requirements). This is meant to ensure a more cost-effective use of public money.

Kevin Misselbrook added, It is wonderful to have an open, inclusive and transparent dialogue with the Government and to see that they are as concerned about Payroll issues as us. We are still convinced from our findings with SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) that the voucher scheme would have been the best choice. Our software is in use in over 9,000 UK businesses so we have a good understanding of the market."

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Pictures and further information can be obtained from Paul Wellings (Head of Media) or Gill Mellor (Marketing Co-ordinator) on 01206 322575 or e-mail pw@access-accounts.com or from www.access-accounts.com

BACKGROUND NOTES:

Access Accounting Ltd was formed in 1991 to bring the benefits of Windows to accounting software. Its software is in use today by over 9,000 companies worldwide. Software is sold in the UK through a national network of Specialist Centres and internationally through 'Access partners.

The company has grown by 40 percent per year. It is an ISO 9001 (TickIT) registered firm. With over 130 staff based in the Colchester head office, everything is designed, developed and produced in the UK.

Access Accounts offers a complete range of Windows 2000 and PowerPC, web enabled financial management and accounting software that scales to suit your size of business and your budget. Principally everything you can do in one level of software can be done in each higher level without re-training staff or re-entering data. Access is a pioneer in financial data management with modules encompassing buying, selling, ordering, costing and inventory control all fully web enabled and with powerful management reporting.

The company also offers virtual showroom e-commerce solutions and marketing web sites with AccessweB. An innovator in e-commerce solutions, Access Accounting Ltd requires its dealers to place all their orders over the Internet using Access Order Wizard (AOW). This was designed by Access to give its own business the advantage of e-commerce.

AccessweB -- A database solution offering the fastest possible route for a company to create its own marketing or e-commerce web site. AccessweB has 10 modules and page options providing everything up to a full e-commerce solution.
Dimensions is the flagship Client/Server software for large companies with up to 200 concurrent users. It has 20 modules plus multi-currency, euro compliancy, dual-base currency and multi-lingual options.
Dimensions SBE is Client/Server software for medium sized companies with up to 20 concurrent users. It has 20 modules to handle every business process.
Horizons is ODBC compliant software for medium sized companies with up to 15 concurrent users It has 20 modules plus multi-currency, euro compliancy and dual base options.
Foundations is ODBC compliant software for small companies or departments of companies with just one concurrent user. It has 15 modules plus multi-currency options.
Access Payroll+ is a complete PAYE and personnel records system, scalable from 5-5,000 staff per datafile. This fully integrates to the entire Access Accounts range.

Access Accounts was voted Best Mid-Range Business Software" for 1997/8 by BASDA, the governing body of accounts software developers. It is accredited under the Accredited Product Scheme run by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Its Payroll package won the PC Pro Excellence Award and it is IMIS accredited.

All Access software is guaranteed millennium compliant. Access released its EMU compliant software in 1998. It offers dual based currency, triangulation and the ability to report in home currency, the Euro and in multiple foreign currencies. It achieved BASDA EMU accreditation for Multi-Currency and Triangulation in 1999 -- one of an elite group in the world to receive this accreditation.

The Old School, Stratford St Mary, Colchester, CO7 6LZ
Telephone 01206 322575 Fax 01206 322956
E-mail pw@access-accounts.com
www.access-accounts.com
www.accessweb.co.uk