In 2010 Sage won the software Satisfaction Awards Payroll prize for their latest incarnation of the ever popular and successful Sage 50 range of Payroll software.
The latest version, Sage 50 Payroll 2011 was released towards the end of last year. It’s as easy as ever to install, with wizards throughout the implementation and videos and tutorials along with the manuals on the disk. You can now even install the whole programme with a single click if you are happy to apply the default settings.
Those who are new to the product will most likely want to take out Sage Cover, this is the brand name for Sage’s own support service which is available on-line or via telephone. However, for those who don’t, there are 45 days free support on offer, so at least you can be sure that you will get as far as installing and running your first payroll for your employees.
As you would expect it links in to other products in the range, notably the Sage 50 Accounts range (accounts, plus and professional versions), and to the HR software, so employee details can be read back and forth when you install a new application.
The latest version allows users to:
Create new employee records and maintain existing ones
Calculate statutory payments including maternity and sick pay automatically
The salary review forecasting feature means you can predict the impact of future pay rises
Set up starters quickly and efficiently and process paperwork for leavers
Attach documents such as word or excel to an employee record (handy for cont5racts etc)
YEAR END
A straight forward step by step process means that even those with little experience of PAYE can process a year end (perhaps with a little support from your sage cover contract)
All documentation can be submitted electronically to HMRC, this has been a requirement since the 2010 return.
Forms can also now be received from HMRC electr4onically
Start the following years payroll without closing off the current payroll year.
If you are already using Sage 50 Accounts Professional, Plus or standard Sage 50 Accounts, the interface will be familiar to you as the general look and feel of all products in the range is very similar