Planning For Year End

As we approach the end of the year, it’s wise to begin planning for the additional processing tasks required to close the calendar year and set the stage for 2008. In this article we’ll offer some common sense tips to consider, ensuring that when it’s time to close Sage Abra HRMS for the year, you and your data are well prepared.

Year-End Closing Documentation
Get a head start on the year-end process by reading through the Sage Abra closing instructions now. You can search for year-end related topics using the Online Users Guide, accessible from the Help Toolbar within Sage Abra. In addition, Sage Software’s SupportPlus Web site is updated frequently with the latest information users need concerning year-end processing.

If this is your first time closing Sage Abra, you might consider one-on-one training with a Blytheco Certified Abra Consultant for you or your staff.  Please contact us at hrsolutions@blytheco.com or (800)425-0943, Extension 192 and notify our support team member that you would like to talk to an Abra consultant about year-end payroll training.

Schedule The Time
The calendar seems to speed up as the end of the year approaches, so don’t be caught unprepared. Schedule the date(s) to perform your year-end closing tasks on your calendar and on the calendars of your payroll clerks and HR personnel. Be certain to allow adequate time to complete year-end procedures before the first payroll of the new year is due.

Develop A Work Plan
You should have a detailed, step-by-step plan for year-end procedures. Communicate to employees involved in the process what their individual tasks will be and when to perform them. Take a close look at the company vacation schedule to ensure you are not caught shorthanded.

Order Government Forms Now
Order your W-2 and 1099 forms early to ensure they arrive before you need them. Be sure to order plenty of extras. Many times a mistake is not discovered until you have printed W-2s. It pays to order at least twice the quantity that you expect to print. Be certain you buy a supported form or that you can make any necessary form layout changes.  Forms can be ordered from Blytheco’s checks and forms partners; for more information, visit our website at http://www.blytheco.com/misc/checks_forms.asp.

Double-Check Employee Information
Take the time to enter all address, pay increases, terminations, and W-4 changes into Sage Abra HR and/or Payroll. You’ll need this data to be current for tax reporting in January.

Back It Up
You know the importance of performing routine backups. Perhaps no other backup is as critical as the final backup you perform before year-end closing procedures are started. Backing up your Sage Abra data is so simple—don’t neglect it. The backup you produce should be kept indefinitely. With Sage Abra, this will mean relabeling that backup file and saving it to another drive location or onto a portable hard drive or CD.

Payroll Tax Updates
Tax table updates are typically available from Sage Software by mid-December. If you have an up-to-date maintenance contract, the update will be sent to you automatically. If your contract has lapsed, please give us a call and we will be happy to assist you in getting up-to-date quickly.

Calling In The Experts
Year-end is a busy time for most companies - especially for their payroll and human resources staff. With a little planning, information, and a small time commitment, year-end processing can proceed smoothly. Be certain to call us if you find data corruption or errors while processing or printing reports. We are available to assist in any part of the year-end processing, such as producing W-2s and 1099s and helping you to archive last year’s data.

For information on HR solutions, contact us at
(800) 425-9843, extension 192 or at hrsolutions@blytheco.com.

Upcoming Sage ABRA HRMS Authorized Training Classes

Abra HR - Mon., 1/21/2008 ATC Class—Human resource professionals know that many of the most time-consuming tasks they perform involve paperwork. Abra HR relieves the... »See all dates for this class Crystal Report Writer for Abra HR - Thur., 1/24/2008 ATC Class—Even though Abra Suite comes with over 100 standard reports, there may be times when you need to create reports that meet your unique... »See all dates for this class

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Contact Blytheco at solutions@blytheco.com or 800-4BLYTHE for more information or with any questions.