Opti.Tax Version 18 with Taxonomy 6.0, ready for submission

As previously announced, Version 18, featuring the latest ERiC 26, is being made available for the submission of e-balance sheet projects based on Taxonomy 6.0. In Version 18, components and modules have been adapted to Taxonomy 6.0:

  • Module: Special and Supplementary Balance Sheets
    • Partnership projects are also based on Taxonomy 6.0 if the partnership’s project was created using it
    • A separate statement of investments can be recorded for each shareholder project
  • OfficeFiler module
    • New report components for Taxonomy 6.0 are being generated
    • Templates updated to comply with Taxonomy 6.0
  • Statement of fixed assets for e-balance sheet projects
    • For financial years beginning after 31 December 2016, a statement of changes in fixed assets must be submitted.
    • Only the „Fixed Assets Statement (gross)“ [table.nt.ass.gross] is now permitted. For a transitional period (for financial years ending on or before 30 December 2017), the „Fixed Assets Statement (net)“ may still be submitted.“

 

 

The „Summary of Fixed Assets (gross)“ is permitted for other types of project (including those published in the Federal Gazette).

Like Version 17, Version 18 offers the option of importing hypercube tables – including fixed asset schedules and equity account movements – into the taxonomy via a file. Since the end of 2016, we have regularly highlighted this feature in our newsletters to ensure that the mandatory fields required from Taxonomy 6.0 onwards can be conveniently transferred from the upstream financial accounting system. An import can be carried out either via connectors or as a file. If you are not yet making use of this option, please contact us and request the interface specifications from our support team. Further information can also be found in our FAQs in the support section.

The hsp provides the following guidance on the use of Taxonomy 6.0:

Please bear in mind that, when using Taxonomy 6.0 to create a valid data set for e-balance sheet projects, you will need to allow for increased processing times due to the additional work involved!

In our newsletter „Announcement: Version 18“, we have already highlighted the need for greater adaptation when applying Taxonomy 6.0 for the 2016 financial year. Please also note the following:

The version 6.0 taxonomy was converted to comply with the rules of the Act Implementing the Accounting Directive (BilRUG), which has led to significant structural changes, particularly in the income statement, and contains items that are no longer valid as they cannot be integrated into the new classification structure. However, certain items in the taxonomies are only deleted from the taxonomy five years after their validity has expired, and are marked with validity details that can be technically verified.

The validity details for items have an impact when an e-balance sheet is submitted, with the result that mandatory fields are only valid within the period specified. ERiC plausibility checks also take into account the time-based validity of items in the taxonomy versions. This may result in validation messages for an e-balance sheet project based on Taxonomy 6.0 and a financial year that begins after 31 December 2016, even though the 2016 project had already been created using Taxonomy 6.0 and was valid.

To improve support, we are therefore displaying the validity details of the taxonomies in the item properties in version 18:

 

 

Please Check the mapping When transferring allocations from a previous year’s project to items that are no longer valid, using the validity specifications – further assistance can be found in the entry instructions for our live validation:

 

 

In addition, various computational checks and reconciliations are carried out – including, amongst other things, a computational reconciliation of the balance sheet with the movement in equity accounts. For certain legal forms, sectors and/or taxonomies (e.g. specialised taxonomies), different plausibility checks may apply where necessary.

The tax authorities have carried out a fundamental review of the so-called „Definition Guidance“ to set out their expectations regarding the mandatory fields of the taxonomy – you will find this information in our software under the relevant headings. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the changes.

Further information from the tax authorities can be found on the following website: http://esteuer.de/#ebilanz.

Please refer to the publicly available documents there or the guidance on Taxonomy 6.0 at: https://de.xbrl.org/taxonomien/e-bilanz-hgb-taxonomie-version-6-0/ or licence the E-Balance Sheet Guide from Stollfuß-Verlag, which is integrated into our taxonomy software and displays explanations with precise item-level accuracy.

Errors may occur even when due care is taken. The tax authorities list errors relating to the taxonomy and plausibility checks here: Overview of known errors.

Update to version 18

Update cycle

An update is only possible if at least version (M) „R 1.11“ is installed; otherwise, a fresh installation is required. Only backups created during the period highlighted in colour (using at least R 1.10) will be accepted.

 

 

If an update is carried out from version 17.1.2, then none Database update required – this means the update can be carried out quickly and easily without having to create a full backup.

You can read about the new features in the various versions of the taxonomy software here:

https://www.hsp-software.de/releasenotes/

Training

We won’t leave you to tackle the challenges of the new taxonomy on your own. We aim to meet the new requirements with a comprehensive range of new features in our taxonomy software. Let us show you the possibilities our software offers and benefit from our experience with taxonomies.

You can find details of the training courses offered by our Academy at: https://www.hsp-software.de/academy/