Standard Name Format - Definition document (before 2007/8 tax return)
Standard Name Format (SNF) is a method of transmitting data from accounts packages to self assessment tax packages for the 1998 tax return onwards.
Key features:
Tax packages using Standard Name Format:
Drummohr Technology - Tax Assistant
Legatio - FastTax
Forbes - ProTax
Objective Tax
Keytime
PTP - TaxReturn
QMS - SA2000
Taxcalc (except Lite)
Accounting packages using Standard Name Format:
AccountsVision
Eureka/Techniforce
PROacc Systems - PROcap
VT Software
Viztopia
(Please note there is no connection between VT Software Limited and VizTopia Software Limited)
If you are a software developer and you implement an SNF import or export facility, please send an email to VT Software so that your name can be added to the above lists.
Introduction
Standard Name Format (SNF) is a method and data format for the export of
accounts data from accounts packages to self assessment tax software packages.
It is easy for software developers to implement and simple for the user. It uses
standard names instead of tax return box numbers to identify amounts, and so
should not need to be altered from year to year if the box numbers on the tax
return change.
SNF has been devised by VT Software after consultation with tax software vendors. VT Software undertakes to supply details of SNF free of charge to anyone who makes a request, and it is hoped that SNF will be adopted as a universal standard by both tax software vendors and accounts package vendors.
SNF supports the transfer of data via the clipboard or a text file. Most tax packages only support the clipboard method, as this is the easiest to use.
SNF applies to unincorporated businesses only. Unlike the personal tax return, the CTSA tax return does not contain a pre-formatted profit and loss account and balance sheet.
Overview of usage
The user chooses a command in his accounts package such as Export via Clipboard
(Standard Name Format). He then switches to his tax software package, selects
the appropriate client, tax year and trade and chooses a command such as Import
via Clipboard (Standard Name Format).
If data is exchanged via a text file and not the clipboard, the user also has to enter a file name in each case.
Data format
Data is copied to the clipboard or saved in a text file in the same format. The
format consists of a line for each tax return box. The lines are separated by
carriage return and linefeed characters. Each line consists of the standard name
for the tax return box, a tab character and the amount in the box. The amount
should not contain any thousands separators such as commas. The sign convention
for the amount should be the same as that used on the tax return. The standard
name is followed by the word Disallowable to identify disallowable expenditure.
For example:
| Sales | 10000 |
| CostOfSales | 6000 |
| EmployeeCosts | 1500 |
| EmployeeCostsDisallowable | 250 |
The items can appear in any order. Lines for zero amounts must be included. The names are not case sensitive. The names never include spaces.
The extension .snf should be used for text files. The default folder/directory should be c:\snfdata.
Data groups
The accounting package may transmit one or more of the following groups of data:
The tax package should only reset an item to zero if a zero line is included in the data transmitted. The user may have chosen to enter a group of data such as disallowable expenses directly into the tax package, and he will not want this data to be reset.
Identification lines (clipboard or text file)
The clipboard or text file should also include the following identification
lines:
AccountsPackageName
BusinessName
PeriodEnding
These are intended to identify the data to the tax software package, and not to set boxes in the tax return. AccountsPackageName should always be the very first line on the clipboard or in the text file. PeriodEnding should be a date in the format dd mmmm yyyy. The tax software package may choose to use this data to prompt the user before importing the data. An example of these lines is as follows:
| AccountsPackageName | ABC Accounts Package |
| BusinessName | A Sole Trader |
| PeriodEnding | 31 March 2002 |
List of standard names
| Standard Name | Description on tax return (pre 2007/8) | Comments |
| Sales | Sales | |
| CostOfSales | Cost of sales | |
| SubcontractorCosts | Construction industry subcontractor costs | |
| OtherDirectCosts | Other direct costs | No longer included on self-employment 2007/8 return. If code used, tax packages should include under CostOfSales |
| OtherIncome | Other income/profits | |
| EmployeeCosts | Employee costs | |
| PremisesCosts | Premises costs | |
| Repairs | Repairs | |
| GeneralAdmin | General administrative expenses | |
| MotorExpenses | Motor expenses | |
| Travel | Travel and subsistence | |
| Advertising | Advertising, promotion and entertainment | |
| LegalAndProfessional | Legal and professional costs | |
| BadDebts | Bad debts | |
| Interest | Interest | |
| OtherFinanceCharges | Other finance charges | |
| Depreciation | Depreciation and loss/(profit) on sale | |
| OtherExpenses | Other expenses | |
| Plant | Plant, machinery and motor vehicles | |
| OtherFixedAssets | Other fixed assets | |
| Stock | Stock and work in progress | |
| Debtors | Debtors/prepayments/other current assets | |
| Bank | Bank/building society balances | |
| Cash | Cash in hand | |
| OtherCurrentAssets | Other current assets and prepayments | New item on self-employment 2007/8 return |
| TradeCreditors | Trade creditors/accruals | |
| Loans | Loans and overdrawn bank accounts | |
| OtherLiabilities | Other liabilities | |
| BalanceAtStart | Balance at start of period | |
| NetProfit | Net profit | |
| CapitalIntroduced | Capital introduced | |
| Drawings | Drawings | |
| GoodsForPersonalUse | Goods etc taken for personal use | |
| DeductionsFromNetProfit | Deductions from net profit | |
| CapitalAllowancesCars | Capital allowance – motor cars | |
| BalancingChargeCars | Balancing charge – motor cars | |
| CapitalAllowancesPlant | Capital allowance – other plant & machinery | |
| BalancingChargePlant | Balancing charge – other plant & machinery | |
| CapitalAllowancesBuildings | Capital allowance – buildings | |
| BalancingChargeBuildings | Balancing charge – buildings | |
| CapitalAllowancesOther | Capital allowance – other | |
| BalancingChargeOther | Balancing charge – other | |
Sample data
Further information or comments
For further information or to make comments, please contact:
Philip Hodgson
VT Software Limited
Swan Centre
Fishers Lane
London W4 1RX
Tel: 020 8995 1142
Fax: 020 8995 1763
email:
philip@vtsoftware.co.uk