IRIS makes its IRIS OpenTax cloud-based compliance suite available for free
IRIS adopts cloud business model, offering free software to accountants completing tax returns with a subsequent fee, from £8 per return, to file online to HMRC
IRIS Software Group, the UK market leader in accountancy and payroll software, has announced that it will provide an option for customers to use its new IRIS OpenTax cloud compliance software with no licence fee. Customers can continue to use the product at no cost, and pay a fee, starting at £8, when submitting each return online to HMRC. Customers that pay an annual renewal fee will see a lower “per submission” cost, starting at £135 for 25 submitted returns.
The new model enables accountancy practices to use IRIS OpenTax without the commitment or upfront cost inherent in taking up a traditional annual licence, enhancing agility for firms by enabling them to purchase credits whenever required to cover either single or multiple tax return submissions.
IRIS OpenTax is designed for smaller practices that want an easy-to-use, value for money solution to prepare and file client tax returns in the cloud.
Deborah Taylor, owner of chartered accountancy firm, DTA & Co., says: “We are fully focused on moving into the cloud and recognise the benefits that a cloud-based approach can deliver in terms of enhanced flexibility and operational agility. Using IRIS OpenTax is enabling us to extend this focus to the tax environment.”
Phill Robinson, CEO of IRIS Software Group, says: “IRIS OpenTax delivers a value-for-money approach that allows practices to scale up through flexible working, including from home or on the road, while keeping tight control over work done. It’s inherently secure because the data is encrypted and backed up in the cloud – and its flexible in terms of payment models whether you opt for a licence approach or with the new model opt to use the product without the initial fees.”
“We believe that the new model provides a quick easy solution for smaller practices, without having to pay upfront licence fees. The solution is cloud-based, so there are no hidden costs, or technology to install and run. The solution is available 24×7 from any device with an internet connection,”
The new approach is also targeted at practices who are considering moving to the cloud, providing them with an easy means of experimenting with an alternative to their existing tax compliance desktop software. They can try out IRIS OpenTax with a few clients and then subsequently move to an annual contract later, where they can achieve better economies of scale.
The standard cost for a personal tax return will be £10 per credit and for partnership and company tax returns, £15 per credit. As an introductory offer, however, IRIS is reducing the personal tax return price per credit to £8. Credits are valid for a full 12 months from the date of purchase and customers can switch to an annual licence at any time.
“The IRIS strategy is focused around delivering choice for accountants,” says Robinson. “Customers can choose to consume our applications on their desktops on-premise, or from the cloud. We will continue to support all customers across all platforms but we have seen that cloud computing is a potential source of competitive advantage and increased efficiency for the practices that choose to embrace it.”
“We already have over 40,000 subscribers using our IRIS OpenApps family of cloud applications,” he adds, “which underlines the success we have already achieved in supporting the innovative ways that some accountants are now choosing to work.”
