Tech update: Dext to release MTD ITSA solution

At the end of every month, Accountancy Age unpacks the newest developments from the world of accounting and audit technology, to help your practice make informed purchasing decisions. This month, we cover the latest from Microsoft, Sage, Xero, and more.

Dext to release end-to-end MTD ITSA solution (November 29)

Accounting data extraction platform Dext has announced that it will soon release an end-to-end MTD ITSA solution for accountants and bookkeepers.

Set to release on December 5, the solution will be available to all existing Dext Prepare customers in the Dext platform.

Those who aren’t Dext customers can register their interest for the public release in early 2023.

“MTD ITSA is a real challenge for nearly all firms,” said Paul Lodder, vice president of accounting strategy at Dext.

“We wanted to create a tool that firms can configure to their processes as well as their clients – without having to reinvent the way they work or the systems from which they do so.”

GoProposal launches standalone app for engagement letter offering (November 29)

GoProposal, the pricing and proposal software by Sage, has announced a standalone version of OverSuite, its engagement letter software for accountants.

Having originally launched as an add-on feature to the GoProposal solution in 2021, OverSuite is now available to all UK accountants as a separate app.

According to GoProposal, this is the first time that a standalone offering to build and manage letters of engagement has been available.

“Building a library of engagement letters has often been an impossible task for many accountancy firms,” said James Ashford, founder and VP of GoProposal.

“The letters need to be robust and provide the protection they need and be clear so that both accountants and clients understand their responsibilities.”

HMRC launches new client information service for agents (November 22)

HMRC has officially launched its Income Record Viewer, a service providing view-only access to pay details, employment history and tax codes to tax agents.

If available, agents will be able to view clients’ information for the current tax year and the four years preceding it.

The service has been available in private beta for some time, but has now been made publicly available to all agents with a HMRC agent services account.

HMRC has provided more information on how to use the Income Record Viewer via its published guidance.

Ecologi joins Xero app store (November 30)

Climate tech start-up Ecologi has launched a free carbon footprinting tool for UK SMEs, now available in the UK Xero App Store.

The tool, Ecologi Xero, intends to give Xero businesses and their advisers the ability to analyse their supply chain emissions, which can account for at least 90% of emissions.

According to Ecologi, this is a step towards helping the UK decarbonise faster, by supporting small businesses in starting their net-zero journey.

“Small businesses already have so much on their plates, and many just don’t have the same resources to focus on sustainability,” said Alex Von Schirmeister, UK MD at Xero.

“The good news is that technology is helping to level the playing field and break down the barriers.”

If you’re in accounting or audit tech and have a recent update the market should know about, email [email protected].