Xero Global Release Update November 2018

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Check out the latest updates for small businesses and partners, plus a peek at what’s coming soon. Xero changes and release updates can be found in Xero Central.

Recently released

Easily achieve Singapore F5 GST compliance
Find and Ask (Pilot) – Compliance without the guesswork
Enhanced multi-currency invoicing in Singapore for IRAS compliance
Improved navigation experience in Xero
Lodge Activity Statement with Xero
Manage VAT through Xero – Beta UK
Fraudbuster – protecting your information
File Construction Industry Scheme returns from Xero with a click – Beta UK
Projects: Supplier Credit Notes
Projects: Trello Power-Up
Workpapers gets a tune-up with a number of new releases

Payroll update

Two-step authentication becomes mandatory for all Australian users
Single Touch Payroll – Allowance categorisation

Coming soon

New improved way to connect bank feeds
Manage your bills from anywhere on mobile

Released

Easily manage your GST F5 within Xero

Singaporean small businesses and their advisors can prepare and save their GST F5 return & IRAS Audit File for easy IRAS tax filing, and get peace of mind with just a few clicks. Learn more and attend a Singapore GST webinar.

Find and Ask (Pilot) – Compliance without the guesswork

Currently in a pilot phase, Find & Ask makes end-of-period tax preparation easier for advisors by taking the guesswork out of understanding what supporting information they need to provide for compliance. Advisors can then more efficiently communicate with their clients to obtain any missing information.

Enhanced multi-currency invoicing in Singapore for IRAS compliance

Xero customers in Singapore can now send a compliant multi-currency invoice with no add-ons or data exporting required. Multi-currency invoices automatically show the Singapore dollar conversion on the face of the invoice making it a lot easier to be compliant with IRAS foreign invoice requirements. For more information, check out this blog post

Improved navigation experience in Xero

Xero’s new, intuitive navigation was introduced to all customers on the 29th November.

This change was the result of extensive user research, benchmarking and testing, and the new layout is designed to help small businesses and their accountants or bookkeepers do the jobs they need to do more easily and efficiently. We’ve also ditched the jargon and replaced it with human wording, making it simpler to find what you’re after and get on with your tasks.

We know that change can be challenging, especially if you use Xero regularly, but we’re sure this is a positive change that will have huge day-to-day benefits. If you’re a small businesses looking for more information check out these FAQs and shortcuts to ease the transition. Or if you’re an accountant or bookkeeper you’ll find everything you need to know in this blog.

Lodge Activity Statements with Xero (AU)

Say goodbye to rekeying information, manually handling paper forms, and the ATO portal. Lodging activity statements to the ATO from Xero is faster and more efficient, saving you time, reducing errors, and increasing accuracy. It gives you the freedom and control to meet your monthly or quarterly compliance requirements more easily, either via a connected advisor or directly to the ATO.

In a few short weeks since its release, thousand of BAS have already been successfully lodged. Try it for yourself, it’s available at no additional cost in Australian versions of Xero.

Manage VAT through Xero (UK)

Xero’s all new Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT solution is in Public beta with HMRC now and available through Xero certified advisers. Getting on board now will mean businesses and their advisors can be ready for MTD VAT, read more. The new Xero VAT solution for MTD is amazing; super slick, connected in real time to HMRC with a super easy workflow including improved audit, a full history of lodgements, all new adjustment capability and much more. Hundreds of business have already connected Xero to HMRC for MTD VAT. If you’d like to get on the MTD VAT beta and not currently connected to a Xero Certified Adviser, check out the Xero Advisor directory.

Fraudbuster – protecting your information

In addition to the other security Fraudbuster provides, in this release, it now identifies high-risk logins and blocks access to business contacts, Xero then requests identity verification of the user, to prevent any fraudulent activity. Once again, Xero are keeping small businesses worry free in the world of cloud accounting.

File Construction Industry Scheme returns from Xero with a click (UK)

UK Small businesses can seamlessly file their monthly CIS return directly via Xero’s connection to HMRC’s e-filing gateway read more.

Projects: Supplier Credit Notes

You can now allow refunds and credits from suppliers to be credited back to Projects. An “Assign to Project” link is simply added to the Bill credit note screen where the user can select which project each line in the credit note is assigned to. It’ll appear as a credit in the overall project financials, and as a supplier credit note line item in the project details report read more.

Projects: Trello Power-Up

With Xero Projects we’ve made it easy for you track your job time and costs however you work. Now by partnering with Trello we’re making it simple to integrate your workflow with your financials using the Xero Projects Trello Power-Up. Read more or get the Power-up now from Trello.

Workpapers gets a tune-up

Workpapers has undergone several tweaks to help you work more productively. New buttons will get you approving and re-importing faster. Changes to trial balances means you can see the date when the trial balance was last imported. Hyperlinking supporting documents to a pack, gives you the power and flexibility to add custom workpapers and calculation sheets from different sources.

And to top it off, on the main screen, see prior period balances at a glance on so you can sanity check the numbers and if needed, easily delete custom workpapers, keeping workpaper packs tidy. Read more about the releases to workpapers.

Payroll Update

Two-step authentication becomes mandatory for all Australian users

We’ve been gradually rolling out mandatory two-step authentication (2SA) to all our Australian users over 2018. Keeping information secure is fundamental to running a connected business, and updated requirements from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) have made 2SA compulsory. It is now a requirement for all users on our platform to have implemented 2SA as a second layer of security. You can find a whole host of information at our two-step authentication homepage.

Single Touch Payroll: Allowance Categorisation (AU)

STP reporting now has improved insights for allowances, with more categorisation options available. Allowances are currently reported with a category of “Other”, but with this release, you have additional categories to choose from.

Coming soon

New improved way to connect bank feeds

Xero is making it easier to connect bank feeds that require paper application forms, to give small businesses and partners time back to do beautiful business. By automating some of the manual steps involved in the process today to remove points of friction, we have developed a simpler, faster and secure process to connect bank feeds to Xero.

Manage your bills from anywhere on mobile

Small businesses are able to add and edit bills on Android and iOS. Entering bills into Xero leaves smbs with a more complete picture of their upcoming costs, making decisions relating to cash flow much easier.

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Source: Xero Blog