Close to 100 people were in attendance to hear about the upcoming legislation changes for Making Tax Digital and the latest updates to Sage 50 and Sage 200.

Acorn BMS were delighted to host their Information Day and Making Tax Digital Update on Thursday 25th October 2018. Close to 100 people from across Northern Ireland made their way to the wonderful venue at Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy.

The key theme of the day was around Making Tax Digital and industry expert Stephen McGeagh, from David Lyttle and Co. Accountants, delivered a highly informative and engaging presentation. Making Tax Digital (MTD) is one of the biggest accounting shake-ups ever seen in the UK which will affect 89% of companies. The new rules mandate that from the 1st April 2019, VAT registered businesses with a taxable turnover above the VAT registration threshold (£80,000) must keep records in a digital form and file their VAT returns via MTD enabled software.

The event kicked off with an introduction from Declan Bradley who welcomed everyone, outlined the agenda for the day and gave an update on the company. Oisin Geraghty from Sage Ireland spoke about the importance of the relationship between Sage and Acorn BMS – now one of the four strategic Sage Partners in Ireland. After a short networking break, Deaglan Lowry from Acorn BMS, gave an update on new features to Sage 50 and highlighted some useful hints and tips. This was followed by a detailed overview on the new Summer Enhancements release for Sage 200 which was presented by Joint Director, Dominic McMullan. Roger Gribbin, Head of Sales and Marketing, gave an overview of Acorn’s Inspired Products and their capabilities including a Manufacturing Process Management System and a Warehouse Management Solution.

The event concluded with a unique opportunity for two businesses to share their stories via a Q&A session. Rory Scullion from Gola Wood Works and James Costello from Action Mental Health discussed how their Sage systems have transformed their businesses and outlined the professionalism shown by Acorn BMS, praising their customer support and expertise.

If you have to upgrade your existing Sage Software or want to explore alternative solutions, then get in touch with Acorn BMS on 02879644975.

“We were delighted to have such a great turnout and response to the event and would like to thank all the attendees for taking time out of their busy schedules to join us. We hope that everyone came away from the day with a better knowledge about Making Tax Digital and the first step we recommend is to check whether your current software will be compliant or if you have to update it”.

Declan Bradley | Joint Director | Acorn BMS

“Making Tax Digital is going to affect most SME’s in the UK and it is important to take action before the 1st April 2019 deadline to ensure your business will be compliant and avoid any penalties”.

Stephen McGeagh | David Lyttle & Co. Accountants