HMRC offers a Linux version of Basic PAYE Tools, but it recently stopped working

Post by rahimnathwani » Tue, Mar 26, 2024, 4:41 PM UTC

mutatio wrote: post #11

londons_explore wrote: post #7

This is from the same government that requires companies submit tax information via a special spreadsheet which has 7 boxes for the 7 numbers they need... But rather than make a webform with 7 textboxes, they make a private JSON API which only approved software vendors have access to, and you then need to use a third party to send your spreadsheet via the private API that only the third party is approved to access...…

I get it, it feels like a regression to me too, but there is method to the madness, their MTD idea is that you don't just plop numbers into some boxes, that they are a product of accountancy software (so that they're accurate). I've seen some tools bypass this and still allow you to input numbers manually but just via the vendor API.

Post by kwhitefoot » Tue, Mar 26, 2024, 4:45 PM UTC

jdietrich wrote: post #24

londons_explore wrote: post #7

This is from the same government that requires companies submit tax information via a special spreadsheet which has 7 boxes for the 7 numbers they need... But rather than make a webform with 7 textboxes, they make a private JSON API which only approved software vendors have access to, and you then need to use a third party to send your spreadsheet via the private API that only the third party is approved to access...…

The API is open to anyone who can demonstrate compliance via the test API. Approval takes 10 working days and there is no cost to the developer. There are currently 544 approved vendors. The barrier to entry is intentional but low. HMRC specifically does not want people typing numbers into webforms, for perfectly legitimate reasons. https://developer.service.hmrc.gov.uk/guides/vat-mtd-end-to-... https://www.tax.servi…

Post by pja » Tue, Mar 26, 2024, 4:52 PM UTC

pyb wrote: post #14

I was one of the (presumably few) people who used the Linux version, until it stopped working for some reason, a few years ago. After that, I got used to booting into Windows one a month to run my little payroll. TBH, I don't think they should be spending resources on this port. PS : hi Liam, we met at Fosdem a few weeks ago!

Post by pja » Tue, Mar 26, 2024, 4:54 PM UTC

dTal wrote: post #27

erremerre wrote: post #26

Why cant the tools be made on Java so that they run everywhere? They dont need to be pretty just run.

Agreed, .jar is an underrated deployment mechanism. Or, you know, make the darned thing a web app.

Post by tigeroil » Tue, Mar 26, 2024, 5:04 PM UTC

robertlagrant wrote: post #28

pyb wrote: post #14

I was one of the (presumably few) people who used the Linux version, until it stopped working for some reason, a few years ago. After that, I got used to booting into Windows one a month to run my little payroll. TBH, I don't think they should be spending resources on this port. PS : hi Liam, we met at Fosdem a few weeks ago!

I do. I don't think the government should be requiring Windows; nor do I think they should be outputting any Excel or Word files at all. All ODF files or PDFs. We shouldn't be paying money for HMRC to use it to pay Microsoft for tools that encourage us all to buy more Microsoft products. That sort of thing seems much more basic than "should Apple be allowed to decide what store is on their phones?"