OPSIS News & Info

Solicitor Case Manager - UK VAT RATE CHANGES - December 1st 2008

As posted previously on our blog the Chancellor, Alistair Darling has announced the Governments pre-budget report for 2008.

Due to the change in VAT announced, you will need to adjust the standard VAT rate in Solicitor Case Manager. If you have Precedents and Case Details (ud fields) which automatically calculates the VAT it is necessary for both of these areas to be amended.

A PDF document detailing how to change the VAT Rates in SCM’s Precedents and UD Fieldds has been created for your convenience.

Click here for Solicitor Case Manager’s UK VAT Rate Change document ( 111kb PDF format)

Please contact our Support team if you require any further assistance with this.

To review the pre-budget report in full, please go to this weblink:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/24_11_08_pbr_completereport.pdf

You may have heard that the Chancellor, Alistair Darling has announced the Governments pre-budget report for 2008.

Over the past year, major shocks have hit the economies of every country in the world. While commodity prices have recently eased, the credit shock has intensified into the worst global financial crisis for generations, a crisis that is being addressed by a global policy response of unprecedented scale and scope.

These developments mean economic prospects are subject to exceptional uncertainty, but it is clear that the UK, like many advanced economies, has moved into recession. Asset markets and the financial sector have been severely affected, with  persistent implications for the public finances. The economic and fiscal climate is exceptionally challenging, but because of the macroeconomic framework introduced in 1997 the UK is facing these shocks from a solid foundation.

The Government remains committed to the macroeconomic framework and the objectives enshrined within it. Credible medium-term objectives and mechanisms for short-term flexibility mean that the Bank of England and the Government can deliver the necessary support to the economy without compromising their respective commitments to low inflation and sound public finances. The Government’s immediate priority is to continue to support the economy through these difficult times.

This Pre-Budget Report announces that the Government will support families and businesses, including by cutting Value Added Tax (VAT) from 17.5% to 15% for 13 months, from 1 December 2008.

Due to the change in VAT announced, you will need to adjust the standard VAT rate in Millennium Accounts.

Before you make any such change in Millennium Accounts, ensure that all of your postings in the current period which have the standard VAT rate of 17.5% applied to them are posted.

A PDF document detailing the change to VAT Codes has been created for your convenience.

Click here for UK VAT Rate Change document ( 56kb PDF format)

Please contact our Support team if you require any further assistance with this.

To review the pre-budget report in full, please go to this weblink:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/24_11_08_pbr_completereport.pdf

An upgrade release of Millennium Accounts (V5.72) caters for new Legal Aid CDS and Claim forms to comply with the latest Legal Services Commission changes that will become active on 1st October 2008.
Click here for download link

Overview

As you are probably aware, the Legal Services Commission has announced changes to Legal Aid CDS and Claims Forms. You will probably have received notification of this directly from the LSC (OPSIS are not responsible for supplying this information). Please note this is an important release for Legal Aid firms and we strongly recommend that you implement this new version as soon as possible.

The Millennium Accounts release of 5.72.4 primarily contains new reports and new miscellaneous features. It does, however, also include 3 new Legal Aid reports which are mandatory from 1st October 2008. Two of them (CDS1 & CDS7) are Word templates and could be emailed to users without the need for upgrading. Users who wish to produce the CLS CLAIM 1 form will need to upgrade to 5.72.4 or later.

Note: Not all Legal Aid users will need/use the CLS CLAIM 1.

Below is the relevant information from the release notes:

Legal Aid Form Updates

• The template for CDS1 “Client’s Details Form” has been updated to version 7 October 2008.
• The template for CDS7 “Non-Standard Fee Contract Work Assessment Form” has been updated to version 8 October 2008.
• The CLS CLAIM 1 “Claim for assessment of costs or payment of costs following detailed assessment in civil cases” has been updated to version 11 October 2008.

The Legal Services Commission will have already notified providers of the form changes and the following information, supplied by the LSC, is accurate at the time of inclusion. Please refer to the LSC website or contact the LSC directly for the most up to date information.

“These forms are mandatory from 1st October 2008 but may be used before that date. All forms signed and dated on or after the mandatory date must be the new versions. Old versions signed and dated on or before 30th September will be accepted until 31st October after which time they will be rejected.“