IRIS Software Announces Market First with Spring 2017 Release | GBAF

IRIS Software Announces Market First with Spring 2017 Release | GBAF

Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

Global Banking and Finance Review is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

Home > Top Stories > IRIS FIRST TO LAUNCH MAKING TAX DIGITAL FUNCTIONALITY FOR ACCOUNTANTS

IRIS FIRST TO LAUNCH MAKING TAX DIGITAL FUNCTIONALITY FOR ACCOUNTANTS

Published by Gbaf News

Posted on April 10, 2017

6 min read

Last updated: January 21, 2026

Russian military operations targeting Ukrainian energy facilities amid ongoing conflict - Global Banking & Finance Review — The image illustrates the aftermath of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, crucial to Kyiv's military capabilities. This highlights the intensifying conflict and its implications for global finance and security.

IRIS Software is today announcing a market first with the availability of its IRIS Accountancy Suite Spring 2017 Release which brings Making Tax Digital (MTD) functionality to accountants using practice-based compliance software.

With the first mandate looming in April 2018, IRIS has included a number of functional enhancements enabling accountancy professionals to keep ahead of the latest legislative changes. The new release also delivers a number of productivity and efficiency gains across the complete suite.

The new Client Dashboards in IRIS OpenPortal show the clients’ digital tax account data currently available to agents, enabling them to see the information held in IRIS compared to that currently held by HMRC. The new functionality will go live when HMRC’s API is complete, which is expected over the next few weeks.

Sion Lewis, CEO Accountancy Division at IRIS Software, explains, “The new MTD widgets will give accountants direct access to HMRC’s Digital Tax Account system, enabling them to interrogate the data and spot any potentially erroneous information before submissions are made. The pre-population of data will also increase efficiency during the personal tax process, which in turn will free up time which can be spent adding value through high level advisory services. Accountants have been requesting this information from HMRC since it was removed from the Electronic Lodgement Service in 1999.

“Offering this service twelve months ahead of the April 2018 mandate for businesses with turnover in excess of the VAT threshold, will also enable accountants to become accustomed with the MTD functionality. With approximately 3.1 million small businesses falling beneath this threshold, it’s vital accountants are familiar with these systems as early as possible, rather than undertaking training once MTD becomes mandatory for the entire client-base.”

Other new functionality includes IRIS Personal Tax enhancements, which allows the pre-population of client data via the Digital Tax Account, further streamlining the tax return process for accountants. This pre-populated information will include: employment records and benefits; earnings; other income sources; tax refunded or set-off by the tax office; marriage allowance and class 2 NIC, which is all the information HMRC has made available at this time. For the simplest of tax cases this makes up 80 per cent of the details required and pre-population will significantly reduce the time required to complete the return.

Sion Lewis continues, “With so few business professionals aware of the upcoming legislative changes, it is vital accountants begin educating their clients and position themselves as indispensable financial advisors to UK businesses to support their digital journey. This new functionality is the first step on this journey.

“Providing the right tools for accountants to service their clients and ensure they meet financial deadlines is why we exist. This is why IRIS is committed to building on this functionality and ensuring IRIS Accountancy Suite is fully MTD compliant by October this year, six months ahead of the initial mandate. This will enable UK accountants to ease the strain of MTD and fully prepare their clients’ accounts well in advance of the first deadline.”

IRIS Software is today announcing a market first with the availability of its IRIS Accountancy Suite Spring 2017 Release which brings Making Tax Digital (MTD) functionality to accountants using practice-based compliance software.

With the first mandate looming in April 2018, IRIS has included a number of functional enhancements enabling accountancy professionals to keep ahead of the latest legislative changes. The new release also delivers a number of productivity and efficiency gains across the complete suite.

The new Client Dashboards in IRIS OpenPortal show the clients’ digital tax account data currently available to agents, enabling them to see the information held in IRIS compared to that currently held by HMRC. The new functionality will go live when HMRC’s API is complete, which is expected over the next few weeks.

Sion Lewis, CEO Accountancy Division at IRIS Software, explains, “The new MTD widgets will give accountants direct access to HMRC’s Digital Tax Account system, enabling them to interrogate the data and spot any potentially erroneous information before submissions are made. The pre-population of data will also increase efficiency during the personal tax process, which in turn will free up time which can be spent adding value through high level advisory services. Accountants have been requesting this information from HMRC since it was removed from the Electronic Lodgement Service in 1999.

“Offering this service twelve months ahead of the April 2018 mandate for businesses with turnover in excess of the VAT threshold, will also enable accountants to become accustomed with the MTD functionality. With approximately 3.1 million small businesses falling beneath this threshold, it’s vital accountants are familiar with these systems as early as possible, rather than undertaking training once MTD becomes mandatory for the entire client-base.”

Other new functionality includes IRIS Personal Tax enhancements, which allows the pre-population of client data via the Digital Tax Account, further streamlining the tax return process for accountants. This pre-populated information will include: employment records and benefits; earnings; other income sources; tax refunded or set-off by the tax office; marriage allowance and class 2 NIC, which is all the information HMRC has made available at this time. For the simplest of tax cases this makes up 80 per cent of the details required and pre-population will significantly reduce the time required to complete the return.

Sion Lewis continues, “With so few business professionals aware of the upcoming legislative changes, it is vital accountants begin educating their clients and position themselves as indispensable financial advisors to UK businesses to support their digital journey. This new functionality is the first step on this journey.

“Providing the right tools for accountants to service their clients and ensure they meet financial deadlines is why we exist. This is why IRIS is committed to building on this functionality and ensuring IRIS Accountancy Suite is fully MTD compliant by October this year, six months ahead of the initial mandate. This will enable UK accountants to ease the strain of MTD and fully prepare their clients’ accounts well in advance of the first deadline.”