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Important Changes to VAT effective 1st Jan 2010
Kevin Misselbrook, Deputy Chair of the BASDA Financial SIG (pictured left), comments:
"This will be a major issue, especially for those software companies that work internationally and will need to interpret different rules for each territory".
HMRC have launched a consultation phase for a number of changes to VAT which will start to come into effect from 1st January 2010.
These include :
- For business services supplied cross EU borders a new requirement that tax should be applied at the VAT rate of the customer location
- The application of Reverse Charge VAT to a range of services as above
- The move to monthly EC Sales lists (with options for quarterly if only selling services across the EU)
The impact on software may include :
- New XML formats and reporting frequency options for EC Sales Lists
- Ability to differentiate services from products on an EC sales list
- The ability to differentiate, for each EU country supplied, whether a service is taxable or exempt in the country of consumption
- Probable changes to invoice content to indicate appropriate tax treatments
- Ability to cater for a range of exceptions – some of which will need to included in the reporting in 2013 and 2015
- The need to have all affected users able to meet these requirements by 1st Jan 2010.
Full details of the changes can be found at this link on the HMRC website
The consultation period is short – ends 13th February.
It would be good for each software vendor to make a response individually. As well as the development and implementation challenges we also would recommend that all vendors should complain that HMRC have not adhered to their own Code Of Practice which states that they should offer a 12 week consultation period.
BASDA are organising a working party to better understand the detail of the changes and to formulate a response from the software industry to HMRC. This working party is taking place in Central London on 29th January we currently have 7 of our members attending. If you would like to join the working party then please contact Kevin Misselbrook, Financial SIG Chair, as soon as possible. Places are limited but we can accommodate another 2 or 3 vendors. Please email Kevin Misselbrook at Kevin.Misselbrook@basda.org.
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Proposal for New Project Management (PM) SIG
The establishment of a Project Management Software SIG is being proposed to establish Best Practices for the PM Software industry, with some specific Topics of Interest:
- Earned Value Techniques
- Computing Performance Percent Complete
- Computing Estimate to Complete
Critical Path Analysis
Scheduling Algorithms
Resourcing Leveling Techniques
The Link between People, Process and Technology
- How Can PMS Support Process Improvement?
Touch Points between PMS and other Business Critical Applications (Finance, HR etc . .)
The role of technology in relation to compliance measures and reporting standards that are driving business to re-evaluate their operational processes and strategies. These include international regulations such as Sarbanes Oxley, Basel II and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) that require internal auditing of processes and budgets in order to report them to government.
The SIG would aim to engage with the whole supply chain industry to share information and influence standards with the project management industry.
A specific example would be:
The emergence of OGC products such as P3M3 and the recent publication of P3O, which relate to the implementation of practice around project and programme management, will highlight the need to use enterprise-wide technology as a driving force to initiate change.
With this in mind, there is an opportunity for the PMS software vendors to engage with key stakeholders in the PPM space to establish best practice and standards in the development of PMS solutions.
Access to and engagement with user groups such as the Best Practice User Group (BPUG) could be very useful in understanding the role of PMS.
It is recognised that there are a number of touch points with existing BASDA SIGs which is another reason for the development of a specific PMS SIG. Examples of touch points include:
- Construction SIG - The use of project planning software applications is well established in the Construction sector.
- Finance SIG - the link between projects planned and actual cost.
The SIG has a proposed Chair - Andy Godfrey of 1st Milestone Ltd.
For more information or to express your interest in joining a Project Management SIG, email jairo.rojas@basda.org
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Call for entries for 2009 Software Satisfaction Awards
The deadline for Awards entries is Friday 1 April 2009 and the user survey will open on Friday 1 May 2009.
The Software Satisfaction Awards 2009 are unique in that they are voted for by the purchasers and end-users of business software - not a judging panel - giving you real insight into how your products are perceived alongside the competition.
By entering the Awards, you are allowing the most important decision makers - your own customers - to reward you for your efforts.
10% discount for BASDA members.
To enter visit the SSA09 Website
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Promote Your Products in the Public Sector
The Key is an initiative by The Department for Work and Pensions E-Delivery Team, which is looking to provide greater opportunity for companies, particularly SMEs, who have innovative products and solutions to promote them across the Public Sector.
They have announced the launch of the first call which is looking for innovations relating to the ‘ICT and Energy Efficiency’ theme.
ICT offers the potential to vastly improve energy efficiency and to reduce carbon emissions. The Key is seeking to find technology innovations which can help Government achieve its ambitious aims as well as help the wider public sector meet its obligations.
Products and solutions in this space must show a significant reduction in emissions over the life time of the product/solution including acquisition, operation and disposal. Any ICT and Energy Efficiency related product or solution needs to look at the appropriate mix of changes to deliver environmental benefits :
• More energy efficient ICT (smart networks)
• New low energy technologies ( e.g. thin client/ green desktop )
• Changing behaviour ( New ways of remote working )
• Changing business processes ( Review of business processes against their environmental foot
print)
• Reducing waste, e.g. Paper
• Reducing carbon footprint of services
• Smart buildings
• Reduction in travel through virtual meetings e.g. audio, video conferencing
• Data Centres: Centralisation versus Distribution of power footprint e.g. thin client = more data
centre usage
• Better use of existing assets to reduce carbon footprint (e.g. Network traffic compression in
order to reduce the size of the required network, better email storage solutions).
More information on The Key is available on the website .
The initial paper application is free of charge. Should you progress to the second and showcase stages a fee will be applicable. Please see the website for full details
If you would like to apply to either or both of these themes, you must in parallel apply to EDT’s Government Gateway Alliance Programme if you are not already part of this programme. Information on this is available from the contacts below. Thye will be able to answer any questions you may have and will provide you with an application form for The Key. EDT will endeavour to process your application for GGAP as quickly as possible, but in the meantime, you are still able to submit your Key application.
The deadline for receipt of the paper application is Noon, Friday 23rd January 2009. They anticipate that the interview and demonstrations of innovations will take place during the w/c 9th February 2009 in London.
Contact information:
jennifer.richards1@dwp.gsi.gov.uk / 01925 845656
antony.bernstein@clicksandlinks.com / 07947 665 324
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Have you signed up for the Green Charter yet?
Is your company prepared to take advantage of the momentum building around business software being a unique contributor in helping the UK and EC reach their targets for carbon emission reduction?
If not, your organisation will lose business opportunities next year and beyond as momentum builds around the green agenda and EC legislation solidifies.
Your customers and potential customers will need to demonstrate their green credentials to their own client base and, therefore, will be investing in software that can help them achieve their green objectives now and in the future.
The BASDA Green Charter is becoming increasingly accepted as the European indicator of green commitment from software suppliers - all BASDA members can take the opportunity to get on board.
Read latest news article >>
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