hsp News March 2023: Software, Support, Community and more

Traditionally, the final episode of each month’s streaming programme, „hsp live at 11“, is dedicated to news from the hsp world. This time, hsp CEO Paul Liese presented the latest Opti.Tax update, version 23.1.0. Among other things, this update includes new features for the modules Council tax and money laundering.

First of all, we’ll be looking at the topic of Council tax. To do this, Paul goes to a Property Tax Project and, after right-clicking on a specific plot of land, select the option „Lodge an objection“. This option is not new, but the „Save and close“ option in the open window is. Clicking on it means that the objection is saved directly beneath the plot entry and is not yet sent. Double-clicking on the objection entry allows you to edit the objection further. Please note: the text of the objection must not exceed 2,000 characters. This limit is set by Elster, not by hsp.

Another useful feature can be found in the „Objection: Send document“ window. There, under „Further objection“, you can tick the box next to „Create a further objection for another plot of land afterwards“. If you wish to carry over the details from the current objection, you can tick another box to do so. If a tick has been placed for a further objection, the next property can then be selected. If several objections have been created, clicking on the arrow next to the „ELSTER“ button (top left, below the menu bar) allows you to select „Batch Send“ and send all objections at once. A question that frequently arose here was whether tax clerks are permitted to prepare and submit appeals. Tax advisers who wish to err on the side of legal caution can check the appeals at this stage and then send them via batch submission.

Further changes and updates regarding working with Microsoft Office

Following the update to version 23.1.0, Opti.Tax takes some time to start up. This is due to database optimisations which, unfortunately, have to be carried out by the software itself. This process affects all project types within the Opti.Tax platform. Paul therefore recommends installing the update at the end of the working day and launching the programme once. This will allow the database update to run overnight.

Another new feature is the ability to load the data from a trial balance onto the correct taxonomy items at the touch of a button using an allocation template. To do this, the templates must first be loaded via the menu option „Help -> Welcome -> Load allocation template“. You can then select a template via „Project -> Allocations -> Apply from template“ and apply it at the touch of a button.

Another issue that the hsp development team has been working on is integration with Microsoft Office. The previous method of integration is no longer possible, so the team has developed a new process. As before, the template documents are stored in OfficeFiler. When a template is opened, the required Office documents are created. Once the save location has been specified, the relevant Office programme opens. At the same time, the file manager displays the corresponding file folder. Once entries have been made, the saved Office document is dragged and dropped into Opti.Tax, either into the project file or the manual file. If the document is then dragged into the report file within Opti.Tax, the existing data is transferred into the document.

New features in the module Money laundering

The Money Laundering module has also undergone a number of improvements. As with the other Opti.Tax modules, this module now features mandatory field validation. The programme checks whether all mandatory fields in the project have been completed and displays any missing entries in the „Validation & Notes“ window. It is also possible to import data via DATEV, provided the interface has already been set up. Using client data from DATEV, the practice can calculate an average rating for all clients regarding Money laundering risk display.

Depending on the nature of the risk, the law firm must put internal safeguards in place. These must be recorded under „Assessment of the external situation and the scope of professional activities -> Information about the firm -> Internal safeguards in accordance with Section 6 of the Money Laundering Act“. By clicking on the green plus sign, a measure can be created manually. However, it is also possible to use templates already created by other users via the menu option „Project -> Import internal safeguards“.

Two further features are currently under development. Firstly, it will soon be possible to obtain reports on each individual client. Secondly, suspected cases will soon be able to be reported to the FIU directly from within the software.