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Welcome to EVR for 1996/97
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This package is designed to mirror the paper version of the return. It contains electronic Tax Return Guidance, this can be accessed via the [F1] key.
The following pages explain how to use the Electronic Version of the Return.
This application is only suitable for Returns of certain types of income. If you find that it is not suitable for your income you should complete the paper tax return.
The Electronic Version of the Return allows you to:-
╖ Complete a new tax return for 1996/97
╖ Save a partially or fully completed tax return
╖ Open a previously saved partially or fully completed tax return
╖ Print a partially or fully completed tax return as a simple black and white form.
Printing
--------
╖ The printed output will not look exactly the same as the screen display or the
paper form and it will be in black and white
╖ A Tax Return can be printed at any time. The declaration will only be printed when
the form and additional pages have been completed
Validation
----------
╖ You can use the validate menu option to check if you have answered all the
required questions
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EVR PACK GUIDANCE NOTES FOR 1996/97
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What is EVR?
------------
EVR is an Electronic Version of the new Self Assessment Tax Return for 1996/97. It is a software package designed to allow you to complete your Tax Return using a personal computer (PC), print out a paper copy of the Tax Return, sign the declaration and send it to your Tax Office.
The EVR software allows you to enter your details via the PC screen, verifies the consistency of the information you enter and performs arithmetic calculations for you. If you wish to calculate your tax bill, the software will help you do this. If you do not wish to calculate your tax bill, we will do it for you.
What will EVR do?
-----------------
The EVR software enclosed with these notes will help you complete your tax return if you receive one or more of the following types of income
╖ employment(s) (up to 20 - if you had more than 20 employments in the year
you should not use the software but should use the printed tax return
form instead)
╖ pensions or social security benefits
╖ income from UK savings and investments including interest and dividends.
Do not use EVR if you receive any of the following types of income
╖ self employment
╖ partnership income
╖ share schemes
╖ property
╖ trusts
╖ foreign income
╖ chargeable capital gains
╖ as a Minister of Religion
╖ as a Lloyd's Underwriter.
For these categories, you should complete the paper version of the Self Assessment Tax Return (SA100) and any relevant Supplementary Pages.
Minimum hardware and software requirements
-------------------------------------------
To use this software package, you will need to install it on your computer. The minimum hardware and software requirements to run the software package are as follows
- Windows 3.1 or later
- 386 IBM compatible PC (486 recommended)
- 4MB of RAM
- access to a printer
- 5MB of available disk space.
Installing the package
----------------------
Follow the instructions given below
1. Insert the disk into your PC's floppy disk drive.
2. From the Program Manager menu, select the 'File' menu and then 'Run'.
The 'Run' dialogue will be displayed.
3. Type A:\SETUP ( OR B:\SETUP if you have placed the disk in the PC's B: drive)
in the 'Command Line' box and press Enter. This starts the EVR installation
program.
You will be asked whether you want to install the software in the default directory on the C: drive. If you wish to install the software in a drive and/or directory other than the default, type the drive and directory at the prompt.
4. Press Enter or click on the 'OK' button to continue with the installation.
The installation program will copy files from the disk into the specified directory on the PC. It will then install the EVR group in the Windows Program Manager. A message will tell you when the installation is complete. A list of files which may be installed is given at the end of this guide in 'Technical information'.
If the disk is faulty, ask the Orderline for a new disk on 0645 000 404.
As with other windows applications, EVR will perform better if all other applications are closed. This helps to increase speed and available resource.
If the software does not appear to be working correctly check that you have the minimum required configuration and enough free space on your PC (see 'Minimum hardware and software requirements' on page 2) and read 'Frequent problems' on page 13. If you still have problems with the software ring 01952 207 680.
If you need help filling in your Tax Return and cannot find the answers you need in the package
╖ ring your Tax Office at the number shown on the printed Tax Return that you have
already received, or
╖ when the office is closed, phone our Helpline on 0645 000 444 for general advice.
It is open each evening and at weekends, or
╖ if you do not want to explain your query on the phone, call in at a Tax Enquiry
Centre - look under 'Inland Revenue' in the phone book.
Using EVR
---------
Once you have loaded the software, you will see in the EVR group a number of icons. These are
╖ a README.TXT file
╖ an EVR Help file with a question mark icon
╖ an EVR icon showing a bowler-hatted EVR cartoon character.
To use the software, double click on the EVR icon.
You will not normally need to use the other icons. The README.TXT file largely duplicates the information given here. The EVR Help file contains help text. This can also be seen whilst using the package - see 'Help within the software' on page 9.
Your liability can be automatically calculated. You can still ask me to calculate your tax liability if your return reaches me by 30 September 1997.
Completing your return
----------------------
This package can only calculate your tax bill for some types of income.
It cannot calculate your tax if
╖ you answer YES to any of the Questions 2 to 9 on page 2 of the Tax Return or
╖ you have a chargeable event gain (Question 12 on page 4) or
╖ you receive lump sum or compensation payments or benefits (entries 1.24 - 1.30 on
page 2 of employment income).
In these circumstances a warning will be displayed. If you wish to calculate your own liability you should stop using the software and use normal printed forms for the whole of your Tax Return.
Tax calculation
---------------
If you choose to do the tax calculation, answer YES to question 18.
You may then make entries in boxes 18.1, 18.2 , 18.4 and 18.5.
To see the result of the calculation
╖ click on the calculate button at the bottom of the screen or
╖ select CALCULATE from the tool bar or Question and Calculation from the menu
bar.
Entries will be automatically copied into the calculation from the entries you have made in the Tax Return. When the calculation is done, results are automatically copied into the Tax Return in boxes 18.3, 18.6 and 18.8. You may change the entries in boxes 18.6 and 18.8 if you wish.
Using EVR to complete your Tax Return
-------------------------------------
The first time you use the software, you will see the 'Introduction To The Software' followed by the first of a number of Interview questions. On subsequent entry, the software will open with only the menu and tool bars visible.
A number of introductory questions will be presented. Answer these as necessary before you are presented with the first of the income and allowance screens for completion.
You will need to copy the references and name of your Tax Office from the front of the paper Tax Return you have received. Your answers to questions will determine entries to be made on the Tax Return and what subsequent questions may be appropriate.
Enter monetary amounts in whole pounds - do not try to enter pence.
Questions on the return and in the interview
--------------------------------------------
Most questions need a YES or NO answer.
Answer questions by clicking on the button or box next to the answer you wish to select.
You can change your answer at any time, but if you change from YES to NO you will be warned that any information you have entered for that question will be lost.
You must answer most of these questions before a Tax Return declaration can be printed. To check that you have answered all of the questions use
╖ the validation icon button on the tool bar, or
╖ select File in the menu bar and choose Validate.
You cannot make entries in some boxes on screens if an earlier question has not yet been answered or if it has been answered NO.
Employment details
------------------
If you answer Yes to Question 1 you will be asked to enter the number of employments you have had in the year and the name of each employer. Upon completion of replies to questions 7 to 9 you will enter screens requesting details of each of these employments. If you have too many or too few employment screens use Question from the menu bar and select 1- Employment Income and Add or Delete as appropriate to get the correct number of employment details. The package can provide screens for up to 20 employments - if you need more than this, use the paper version of the Tax Return and Employment Pages.
Menu bar
--------
At the top of the EVR screens is a menu bar which contains the following:
File - contains the following:
New - create new tax return file
Open - open previously saved tax return file
Close - close currently open tax return file
Save - save currently open tax return file
Save As - save currently open tax return file to a different drive and/or with a different file name
Validate - tells you if Questions remain to be answered
Print - print selected tax return file - you are presented with the option of printing
the complete tax return and calculation (the default) or of printing a selected
part or selected pages.
Exit - exit the software - you will be invited to save your file.
Question - enables you to go to part of the package
--------
1 - Employment Income - to go to the first page of employment details
10+ Question 10-19 - to go to the screen containing a particular Question
20+ Question 20-23 - to go to the screen containing a particular Question
Calculation - to go to the tax calculation pages
Interview - to go to the start of the Interview screens
Go To
-----
Forward - to the next screen
Back - to the previous screen
Goto Box - to go to a box if you know the box number
Settings
--------
Use Windows Colours - adopts the screen colours you have set within Windows
Use Personal Colours - adopts default screen colours set for this software
Set up Personal Colours - allows change to screen colours for this software
AutoSave Interval - if set to between 60 and 600 seconds your file will be
automatically saved at the selected interval. The
default value is 0 at which value the file is not
saved automatically.
(AutoSave saves the file to a recovery file - not the user file)
Help
----
Introduction - Introduction screens
Contents - User Guide and Help Contents - text files
Search For Help On...- Search facility to find help on particular topic
Context Sensitive - selecting this entry gives help appropriate to the box the
cursor was positioned in on the screen - same as
the F1 key
About EVR - Version Number and Copyright
Tool bar
--------
Below the menu bar is the toolbar.
From left to right, the icon buttons on the toolbar are
You can access help on particular topics by pressing the 'F1' key
╖ whilst the cursor is in an entry box, or
╖ once a box has been highlighted using the TAB key.
You can also access Help text through
╖ Help on the menu bar and scan the Contents or search for a particular topic through Search For Help On...
╖ the '?' icon displayed in the EVR group in Program Manager.
You can also access a README file through the icon displayed in the EVR group.
Navigation
----------
A page of the printed Tax Return covers two screens. You may find it useful to have your paper Tax Return to hand when using this package.
The Forward and Back buttons take you between screens. These are on the tool bar and also on most of the screens. If you cannot move forward or back from a particular screen this is because you have reached the end of that section of the package. Go back into the Tax Return, interview or calculation by selecting Question on the menu bar.
You can use the menu options Question and Go To to find your way through the Tax Return.
As well as using the mouse you can use keys to navigate within the package.
╖ Use the TAB key to move between fields on a screen.
╖ If you TAB to a FORWARD or BACK button the button will be highlighted. You
can then press ENTER to move to the next or previous screen.
╖ The ALT key will highlight the first field (File) on the Menu bar and arrow keys
allow you to select the appropriate menu entry. ENTER will then allow you to
select an action.
╖ Use the SPACE bar to select your answer to Questions.
If you do not have a mouse, you should consult your Windows manual for more information on the normal keyboard alternatives to mouse actions.
Colours on screen
-----------------
If you have problems using this software because of the colours on screen, use Settings on the Menu bar to change the colours to suite your needs.
╖ Use Windows Colours - adopts the colours you have set within Windows.
╖ Use Personal Colours - set to a default colour scheme on entry - can be changed
using Set up Personal Colours
╖ Set up Personal Colours - allows you to change colours within the application.
Printing
--------
Acceptable printing should be possible with most types of printers. Ensure that the page size is set to A4.
Select File and Print from the menu bar, you can then choose to print
╖ the whole return and calculation by selecting Complete Tax Return or
╖ pages 1 to 8 of the tax return by selecting Tax Return
╖ all Employment Pages
╖ the pages of the Tax Calculation Guide
╖ selected Employment Pages by selecting Emp followed by the employer name you
entered
╖ selected pages within any of these options.
You should make sure that you can read all the printed pages before you sign the declaration at 23.1 on page 8 of the Tax Return.
Warning
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The Inland Revenue, which retains ownership of the EVR disk, shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by its use or the software which it contains even if such loss or damage is caused by negligence. However this is subject to any exceptions provided by overriding law.
Before signing the declaration on page 8 of the Tax Return, you must ensure that all necessary pages are included and that the information printed on those pages is complete correct and legible. In particular you should make sure that there are no errors or omissions in your return. Validation within the software will only check that you have answered all necessary Questions.
How to make your return
-----------------------
When you are satisfied that you have completed the Tax Return you should
╖ print the return and check that it is complete, correct and legible and if it is
╖ sign and date the declaration on page 8 of the Tax Return.(If you are nominating
someone else to receive a repayment of tax you must also sign in box 19.12 on
page 7.)
╖ ensure that all pages are included (Do not send your Tax Office the pages of the Tax Calculation
Guide - keep these for your own records)
╖ post the Tax Return to your Tax Office.
If you want me to calculate your tax, or if you want to include any tax you owe (up to ú1000) in next year's tax code, your Tax Return must reach your Tax Office by 30 September 1997.
If you calculate your tax and do not want to include any tax you owe in next year's tax code, your Tax Return must reach your Tax Office by 31 January 1998.
If the notice requiring you to make your Tax Return was given after 31 July 1997, refer to'Paying your tax' on Page 29 of the paper Tax Return Guide.
Frequent problems
-----------------
1 The software will not load.
Do you have sufficient free space? you need 5Mb of free space to load the software.
Do you have the right configuration? - See Minimum hardware and software requirements on page 2.
Is the disk faulty - try accessing the README.TXT file through File manger - if you cannot do this ask the Orderline for another disk.
2 The software will not run.
Do you have the right configuration? See Minimum hardware and software requirements on page 2.
Do you have sufficient RAM? - you need 4MB of RAM to run the software and a sufficiently large swap file
3 Page breaks are in the wrong place or page numbers are printed on a separate page.
Ensure that the page size is set to A4.
4 I get an out of memory error on the printer when printing.
Ensure that you are using the correct printer driver with the correct amount of memory specified. If you still encounter the problem, try printing with a lower resolution.
5 I run out of memory when printing.
Ensure that there is at least 2Mb of free disk space.
6 I enter a four digit figure for the year but this is cut to two when I press TAB.
Using Control Panel, change the International settings for your computer. Ensure that the date format is D/M/Y and that Short Date Format includes an X against Century.
7 I get an error message that date is out of range even though it is within the permitted range.
Check your date format for windows. Use Control Panel to change the International settings for your computer. Ensure that the date format is D/M/Y and that Short Date Format includes an X against Century.
8 I get an out of memory error.
Ensure that EVR is the only application running - this will ensure that as much memory as possible is available. You may be able to increase the amount of virtual memory by increasing the size of the windows swap file - see your Windows manual for more information.
9 An out of memory error occurs if I try to print when the printer is off line.
Exit windows after saving any work you have done and try again with the printer on line.
10 I tried to type into some boxes on the screen but nothing happened.
Some boxes are only made active (enabled) when the previous Question is answered YES.
For example you cannot make entries in boxes 10.1 to 10.32 until you answer YES to Question 10.
11 The program will not let me enter pence.
Round all values to the nearest ú1.
12 I get a warning message "Do not use this software to make your return as you will require additional pages and will be unable to calculate your liability".
Only the Tax Return and Employment Pages can be printed - you cannot print Supplementary Pages for income covered by Questions 2-9 on page 2 of the Tax Return SA100. Nor can you calculate tax liability if you have any such income. Use the paper forms.
13 I get an error message when entering a date.
Dates should be entered in the format dd/mm/yyyy as in
30/09/1996 for 30th September 1996 and
01/04/1997 for 1st April 1997.
14 I get a message "THE TAX RETURN IS NOT VALID" on screen when printing and "This tax return is not valid" printed on PAGE 1
You must answer either YES or NO to all Questions 1 to 19 before the program prints a declaration area. Use Validate to find out which Questions to answer
15 The program did not print a declaration area for my signature.
You must answer either YES or NO to all Questions 1 to 19 before the program prints a declaration area. Use Validate to find out which Questions to answer.
16 The program will not print at all.
Ensure that the Courier New and Arial fonts are available, via your Windows Control Manager: The program will warn you if these fonts are missing.
If you still have problems with the software ring 01952 207 680.
Technical information
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When the software is installed the following files are installed in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM
