year end | Schulz Consulting

Sage ERP MAS 90 & MAS 200: 2010 Year End FAQ – Payroll, 1099

November 16, 2010 by Wayne Schulz

Sage Software have just published their 2010 year end frequently asked questions about payroll and 1099 processing. This 6 page guide contains answers to the following questions:

1. Do I need to download the 2010 Interim Release Download (IRD)?

2. Do I need to download the 2010 IRD if I’m using the Federal and State eFiliing and Reporting feature?

3. When will the year end Sage EPR MAS 90 and MAS 200 Federal and State eFiling and Reporting updates be available?

4. When will the year end Tax Table Update (TTU) and Interim Release Download (IRD) for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 be available?

5. Will I be required to print my W-3 on the red, preprinted form when using Federal and State eFiling and Reporting?

6. How will the year end Tax Table Update (TTU) and Interim Release Download (IRD) for Sage ERP MAS 90 and MAS 200 be made available to Customers, Business Partners or Sage Accountants Network members?

7. I do not have access to the Internet from my Sage ERP MAS 90 or MAS 200 server. How can I obtain the year end Interim Release Download program update and TTU to install them on my server?

8. How can I obtain the TTU or IRD if I do not own a current Subscription plan?

9. I’ve never been to Sage MAS Supprot, and I don’t know if anyone else from my company has either. What do I do to get a login and access the information I need?

10. After I downloaded the TTU and IRD, do I install it on my workstation or on my server?

11. We file Local Withholding Tax on our W-2s and we’re using Federal and State eFiling and Reporting, what extra steps do I need to take?

12. What changes were applied to the Electronic Reporting Module?

13. Previously, I’ve filed employees W-2’s via Magnetic Media. Are there any changes?

14. I’m supposed to electronically file my W-2s in the EFW2 format, so why does Sage ERP MAS 90 and MAS 200 show a MMREF-1 format?

15. For companies who must print 1099 forms, are changes required this year?

16. I was formerly required to file Form 1099’s via Magnetic Media, but now need to file 1099’s via Electronic Reporting using the Internet. What do I need to know?

17. Where can I find information on how to do year end processing for any module?

18. Where can I purchase W-2 and 1099 forms 100% compatible with my Sage ERP MAS 90 and MAS 200 software?

19. I have an Extended Solution enhancement. Will I need to update it after installing the 2010 Interim Release Download?

20. I am using Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL 4.45 and need to file 1099s. What do I need to do?

21. Does the IRD contain changes to Payroll to support the Qualified Employee Reporting as allowed by the HIRE Act?

22. What is new in eFiling and Reporting this year?

23. Will the IRD be included in a Product Update or Service Update?

Sage MAS 90 and 200 2010 Year End FAQs 11-15-10

MAS90 and MAS200 Year End 2009 Payroll Tax News

December 11, 2009 by Wayne Schulz

MAS90 and MAS200 Year End News (aka No news Is Good News)

Here’s the latest on changes for your 2009 FYE

Sage MAS 90 and 200 Year-End Updates

Sage MAS 90 and 200, 2009 year-end changes are limited to the 1099 portion of Electronic Reporting (formerly Magnetic Media Reporting) and form printing of W2s for New Jersey Family Leave Insurance Disability Insurance Private Plan Numbers.

When using Sage MAS 90 and 200 version 4.3 Federal and State eFiling and Reporting, you will no longer need to apply the IRD for 1099 or W2 printing, or Electronic Reporting. However, you will still need to download and install the Q1 2010 Tax Table Update.

We expect that on December 18 you will be able to access Federal and State eFiling and Reporting within the Payroll module to update W-2s or 1099s, and for updates to 1099s from the Accounts Payable module. Simply accessing eFiling and Reporting within Sage MAS 90 and 200 will prompt you to apply the online automated update.

Not so secret tips about closing the year in MAS90

January 26, 2009 by Wayne Schulz

I’m surprised to see so much confusion among my clients about the year/month end closing process.

Virtually everyone hesitates to close their books for fear of not being able to go back and make an entry when their accounting staff or CPA eventually give them the journal entries needed to close out their old fiscal year.

Here’s my tip(s):

Close your books regularly. – Before you do so ALWAYS turn on the maximum history retention in every module. Simply increase the # of months to the maximum in every setup. You can always get rid of history but it will never come back.
Print and tie out the records monthly – AP and AR aging tie to GL control account total – TB and GL Detail in balance (and printed)
Use Papeless Office (free in v4.3+) to print these reports
Use the COPY function in company maintenance to make a “dummy” company to hold your old data at year end – just in case.
Remember that 1099 forms must be printed (and closed) from the AP reports menu.

Starting with 4.2 1099 forms are less of a hassle because the totals are tracked for multiple years, but I still recommend you print and close the 1099 processing in a timely fashion. And remember that you won’t be able to take advantage of the latest software improvements if you are on an old MAS 90 version.

What so many people fail to realize is you can re-open the general ledger very easily. I recommend not developing crazy “workarounds” for year end. Close the period (most people strive to do it by the 10th or 15th of the following month) regularly and do away with worrying about keeping months open.

Want A More Stress Free Closing in MAS 90 or MAS 200?

Stay on the latest version – it’s really tempting (but a bad idea) to cling to the older versions. If you avoid moving to version 4.3 you give up the ability to go paperless with monthly closings as well as productivity features (like the ability of 1099 forms to track information for unlimited years instead of just two) that greatly enhance the speed with which you can print reports.

Close your system each and every month – pick a date by which your books will be closed out each month. And close. Don’t be concerned about having to go back and make an entry into a closed period. It’s been our experience that many more people worry about closed periods than actually ever have to re-open them to post entries.

Plan for year end – realize the consolidating 15 different entities into one is probably best accomplished outside of your annual closign process. Instead take non-year end work — out of year end. Test and implement major changes during your normally slower times of the year.

Did I miss a tip — or get something wrong? Let me know in the comments below.

MAS 90 Year End Seminar – December 17, 2008 – 2pm EST

December 10, 2008 by Wayne Schulz

Sage MAS 90 Year End Closing Seminar

Year end is once again here. Join Wayne Schulz for a one hour seminar (watch the full length recorded presentation here)that walks through the best practices for closing the year in MAS 90 or MAS 200. He will cover the procedures for making sure you have the latest Payroll program updates as well as explaining the proper order of closing, items to review in each module BEFORE closing as well as any changes to W-2 or 1099 printing.

This is an intermediate level session appropriate for users with 1 or more years of experience with MAS 90 or MAS 200.

Wayne will move quickly through the key things to be aware of during your yearly MAS 90 closing. This will not be a training class and some prior knowledge of Sage MAS 90 or 200 will be assumed.

Users of all versions of Sage MAS 90 and 200 will find that this information is applicable to them.

Title:
Sage MAS 90 Year End Processing: Everything you need to know but were never told (Video Recording)

Date:
Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Time:
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Link: Seminar Registration is Over

You may view my MAS90 Year End Tips & Tricks and seminar presentation materials here.

The official Sage North America MAS 90 2008 FAQ

Want A More Stress Free Closing in MAS 90 or MAS 200?

Sage MAS 90 Year End Closing Seminar

Contact Us