# Checks
Dext Precision has compiled a number of it's insights and cleanup tools, along with specialist calcuations, into one view designed to fit into your practice processes. These checks have their own date filters that apply to the insights and tools within, so you can run through them when the time calls. We call these Checks...
# VAT Return Checks
| PLEASE NOTE Our VAT Return Checks are currently available for Xero clients only. |
Dext Precision provides a set of checks that have been designed to quickly spot tax issues with respect to transaction data over a given filing period. Simply enter in the date range and the minimum amounts (more on those below) and hit Run Report to generate the checks. Expanding the card allows you to see these transactions, with a link directly to Xero to sort them out.
These checks are called Tax Return Checks in regions outside the UK. We are working on building out functionality for other regions - so far we've added support for the South African 15% Two-Monthly VAT Scheme, and we have other regions also in development.
# Scheme Thresholds (UK Only)
This check finds looks at annual and quarterly (where applicable) Taxable Turnover and makes sure that they are within the limits of the selected VAT scheme as defined by HMRC . You'll see a warning if the limits are within 10%, and an error if turnover has exceeded the limits.
# Estimated VAT (UK Only)
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UK Customers Please Note: Our VAT Checks work best when Dext Precision is connected with HMRC - without this connection, we cannot know when payments have been made or detect any late claims. Please see our Integrations section for more information. |
Dext Precision keeps a running estimate of VAT accrued (or due to be reclaimed) for the current period, it handles Cash, Accrual and Flat Rate schemes.
Opening the card reveals further details, with a filter to display in HMRC VAT Return format, grouped by Vat "Box" Figures, or grouped by Tax Rate. You can also filter by current period or late claims.
If connected to HMRC, we are able to use actuals, which makes this estimation much more reliable.
# Box 1 to Box 6 Comparison (UK Only)
This check examines your transactions to provide a Box 1 to Box 6 percentage for the current VAT Return. Opening the card for further detail reveals previous periods and their respective Box 1 and Box 6 figures, with their percentage differences.
If the percentage is not as expected, check the Tax Review by Code check for more insights on what other tax rates may have been used in the period.
# HMRC Status (UK Only)
If you have connected to HMRC, our HMRC Status section provides details on the selected VAT period as well as upcoming dates for filing and payment status.
# VAT Control Account (UK Only)
If the HMRC integration is enabled, we can now reconcile the VAT Control Account in Xero against the current HMRC liabilities, plus any accrued VAT and future VAT (if on the Cash scheme), to ensure this account balances. The balance is also available at a glance in the Practice Dashboard .
# Unreconciled Transactions
This uses the same logic as the Unreconciled Transactions insight to find unreconciled transactions for the date range you have supplied.
# Revenue Account Review
This check finds transactions that don't have an Account Class of REVENUE, but have been assigned as revenue Tax Type of OUTPUT2, RROUTPUT or ZERORATEDOUTPUT.
# Expense Account Review
This check finds expense transactions that have been assigned a Tax Type of INPUT2 (20% VAT on Expenses), with accounts that have Reporting Codes of EXP.ADM.ENT (Entertainment), EXP.ADM.PRI (Printing & Postage) or EXP.ADM.TRA (Travel International).
# Balance Sheet Review
This check finds ASSET, LIABILITY or EQUITY type transactions with a non-zero tax value, excluding Fixed Assets (account type FIXED) and Reporting Codes of LIA.CUR.ACC (income in advance) or ASS.CUR.REC.PRE (prepayments).
# Tax Review by Code
The below checks (20% VAT Review, Zero-Rated Review and No-VAT Review) have all been combined into one Tax Review by Code Check card, which splits out all transactions in the period by the tax code applied. You can set a minimum value threshold against this Check.
# 20% VAT Review
This check finds transactions with a tax type of either 20% VAT on Income or 20% VAT on Expenses with a net value above the minimum amount set by you in the configuration for this check.
# Zero-Rated Review
This check finds transactions with a tax type of ZERORATEDINPUT with a net value above the minimum amount set by you in the report header (Zero Rated Min). The idea here is to ensure the client is claiming back VAT on as many high value items as possible.
# No-VAT Review
This check finds transactions with a tax type of NONE with a net value above the minimum amount set by you in the report header (No VAT Min).
# Multi-coded Contacts
The same as the Multi-Coded Contacts insight, but looking at contacts that have transactions in the reporting period specified.
# Transactions Without Attachments
This check finds transactions that are lacking attachments (useful from a VAT evidence point of view), with a net value above the minimum amount set by you in the popup configuration (click the little cog beside the title to set the minimum value). Clicking the card shows the list of transactions, which you can filter by Revenue or Expense.
# Transactions With Attachments
This check allows you to review transactions that do have attachments, with a net value above the minimum amount set by you in the popup configuration (click the little cog beside the title to set the minimum value). Clicking the card shows the list of transactions, which you can filter by Revenue or Expense. Clicking the plus beside the Contact Name in a transaction row will expand to show a list of attachments relating to that transaction. For each attachment listed, you can click "View Attachment" which will open the attachment in another browser tab, or download it, depending on the file type:
# Health Check
The health check is designed for practices to run through on a regular basis with their clients, ensuring that the books are kept clean and providing value to the client. The process hits a number of touch points to make sure clients are financially prepared as well as highlighting any issues before they become a real problem.
Simply enter in the date range and hit Recalculate to generate the checks.
The traffic light system tells you which checks require attention. Key stats are displayed at a glance, and you can click to expand the card and see more detail or head through to the actual insight.
Clicking the speech bubble beside each card will toggle to display some narrative around the purpose of the check, and how to approach it with your client. You can click the speech bubble again to close it.
# Unreconciled Transactions
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Please note: The Unreconciled Transactions check is currently available for Xero clients only. |
This uses the same logic as the Unreconciled Transactions insight to find unreconciled transactions for the date range you have supplied, and the age of the oldest unreconciled transaction. The indicator will be amber if there are unreconciled transactions over 15 days old, and red for if there are any over 30 days old.
# Fixed Assets
The same as the Fixed Assets insight, but using the end date specified in the Health Check as the fixed asset Reporting Date.
# Dormant Accounts
The same as the Dormant Accounts cleanup tool, but using 2 years before the end date specified in the Health Check as the Dormant Since date.
# Aged Balances
The same as the Aged Balances insight, but using the end date specified in the Health Check as the Aged Balances Reporting Date. The Invoice Age is fixed to 3 months from the end of the Health Check period.
# Draft Invoices
This check looks for invoices that have a status of either DRAFT or SUBMITTED (Awaiting Approval) and have an invoice date that is before the end of the reporting period. Ideally, these should be dealt with before the period is closed off.
# Entertainment Accounts
The purpose of this check is to highlight entertainment expenditure across two categories, Staff and Business, each of which have different tax rules. Note: this requires some manual configuration per client to report correctly. The default configuration uses the Xero Reporting Code EXP.ADM.ENT to try and summarise entertainment expenditure in general.
You can change the configuration by clicking the small cog next to the Entertainment Accounts title. Clicking on the Staff Entertainment or Business Entertainment cards will expand to allow you to review the relevant transaction history.
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Staff Entertainment: once the number of employees and the account codes for staff entertainment have been set, this check shows the spend per person since the start of the current UK tax year. Warnings or errors are displayed as the spend per person approaches or exceeds the current HMRC allowable limit of £150.
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Business Entertainment: This check summarises the expenditure during the Health Check Reporting Period for the account codes specified as Business Entertainment. As VAT cannot be reclaimed on this expenditure, this is also summarised for review.
Note: the rules around staff entertainment are specific to UK tax at present.
# Multi-coded Contacts
The same as the Multi-Coded Contacts insight, but looking at contacts that have transactions in the reporting period specified.
# Regular Suppliers
The same as the Cost Analysis insight, but looking at suppliers active during that period with potential anomalies.
# Cost by Account Code
Similar to the functionality in Cost Analysis when in 'By Account' mode. Look for anomalies in account movement or as a cost.
# PAYE Status
This check balances manual journals against detected payments with PAYE account codes to ensure a correct PAYE status at a point in time. By default, the check calculates the PAYE control account balance based on account codes found under the reporting code LIA.CUR.TAX.OTH. You can change the account codes used by clicking the small cog next to the card title, where Dext Precision will suggest a number of account codes for easy setup. Expanding the card shows the detailed grid of PAYE transaction history for the last 6 months.
The PAYE check runs through the following logic:
- All is well: if the Control Account balance is 0 and there is a Manual or Xero Payroll Journal present in the last complete month
- All is well: the Control Account balance is equal to the amount posted in the Manual or Xero Payroll Journal(s) in the last complete month, and the snapshot date is well in advance of the HMRC Deadline
- Warning: Contol Account and Journals balance, but HMRC payment due date is approaching
- Error: No Manual or Xero Payroll Journal found in the last complete month
- Error: No payment detected, and HMRC payment deadline is past due
- Error: Control Account balance is non-zero and does not reconcile with balance of Manual or Xero Payroll journals
# VAT Status
A summary of the VAT Tracking insight reporting on the VAT accrued since the start of the period, and if the annual taxable turnover is within the threshold of your detected scheme.
# Estimated Corporation Tax
A summary of the Corporation Tax insight, sharing the next estimated payment for the previous period, and the estimated corporation tax accrued for the current period.
# Dividends Status
This check shows a running tally of the dividends posted in the system since the start of the client's current financial year. The point of this check is to ensure that dividends are declared where necessary from an audit trail perspecitve, and that these intended funds are not being distributed via other channels.
By default, the check retrieves the balance of each control account based on account codes found under the reporting code EQU.RET.DIV. You can change the account codes used by clicking the small cog next to the card title. Expanding the card shows a balance for each of the dividend accounts found. Clicking on a dividend account will display a detailed grid of its transaction history since the start of the financial year.
In terms of status, the Dividends check will show a warning if it is greater than 3 months into the client's financial year and no evidence of dividends declaration has been found.