W-11 HIRE Act Affidavit Released By IRS
April 20, 2010
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Here’s the latest W-11 which is required for any companies looking to take advantage of the latest HIRE legislation.
HIRE – Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment – Explained
PCI – PA-DSS Security Standards and Credit Card Processing With Sage MAS90: Overview Video & Concepts
February 8, 2010
Sage have released a great overview video that can help anyone unfamiliar with Credit Card security requirements as mandated by the payment application security standards. This Payment Card Industry recording will provide you with an overview of the principals and guidelines necessary to follow PCI security standards.
Use this video as a guide and not a “how to”. Always check with your processor for your specific requirements as well as any updates that may have been issued since Sage issued this video.
MAS90 and MAS200 Year End FAQ – 2009
December 11, 2009
Sage have just posted their annual MAS 90 and MAS 200 Year End Frequently Asked Questions guide. This 6 page report outlines the date when an IRD (Interim Release Disk) will be available (12/18) as well as the day you’ll be able to go online to download next years’ tax table update (aka TTU – 12/14/09).
If you use the Payroll module you can install the Q1 2010 TTU and 2009 IRD with Sage MAS 90 or 200, versions 3.71, 4.0, 4.05, 4.10, 4.2 and 4.3, and with Sage MAS 200 for SQL versions 3.71, 3.72, 3.73 and 3.74.
One interesting note from the FAQ – The Federal W-3 is not required to be printed on the official form. Sage incorporated an approved substitute that can be printed on plain paper with an inkjet or laser printer. It should not be printed in Red. You can identify the approved form by looking for the numbers 0000/1048 under “year” on the form.
Sage MAS 90 and 200 ERP 2009 Year End FAQs
Payroll Tax Table Update, Electronic Reporting, & Accounts Payable
Revised December 7, 2009
What’s new in MAS 90 3.50 through 4.2?
September 8, 2009
One question that we’ve heard time and time again as MAS 90 upgrades are released is “what’s new?”.
Often this can be a difficult list to remember – especially if the person asking is several release levels back on the software. It’s easy to remember what has been added from version 4.1 to 4.2 — but how about from 3.50 to 4.2?
If you’re curious about all the enhancements that Sage has made to MAS 90 and MAS 200 since version 3.5 then you may wish to review this handy list on their site.
A detailed list of every change is available on a release by release basis. The chronology starts at version 3.5 and extends to 4.2. There is no login required – simply click away at the link below.
What’s New in MAS 90 – Version 3.5 to 4.2
MAS 90 & MAS 200 Virtualization Guide Published
July 29, 2009
Virtualization allows you to allocate hardware resources among multiple virtual environments running on the same machine. Application virtualization is the use of software to allow multiple application images (such as Sage MAS) to run on the same hardware at the same time.
Sage has just issued their officially supported Virtualization configurations. This one page document (copy below for your convenience – be sure to check for updates as they become available) outlines the various virtualization platforms that may now be used to run both MAS 90 and MAS 200.
Benefits of Server Virtualization:
•Provision additional servers without investing in new hardware
•Run multiple operating systems and applications on the same physical server
•Increase the CPU utilization of an underutilized physical server by running multiple virtual environments
•Move virtual machines from one physical server to another without re-configuration
•Capture the entire state of a virtual machine and roll back to that configuration easily
Benefits of Workstation virtualization:
•Run multiple virtual machines on a single PC
•Quickly provision, deploy and reconfigure physical machines
•Run multiple operating systems and applications on a single PC
•Eliminate risk by creating isolated testing environment
•Built-in Snapshots and easy Restore capabilities
MAS90 Version 3.71 Discontinued June 30, 2010
March 19, 2009
UPDATE 9-2-2009:
Although the Sage official supported platform matrix dated 2-11-09 continues to say that MAS 90 and MAS 200 v3.71 is headed for the retirement on June 30, 2009 we have uncovered another Sage document that seems to say that those on a MAS90 Value Support plan will be able to obtain support through 9/30/2010. If you are making a decision on whether to upgrade/migrate from a 3.71 installation please consult with a competent Sage Business Partner for the latest information prior to making any final determination.
MAS90 and MAS200 version 3.71 appear headed toward “end of life” as of June 30, 2010. (see note at top of this post for updated information)
Whether Sage meant to disclose this tidbit quite yet (or not) - the latest Supported Platform Matrix dated February 11, 2009 contains this tidbit of information.
Of course the older Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 versions were no longer actively sold but Sage had been offering a value plan which for $1,000 per year gave users of the 3.71 version the capability of buying additional users and modules under what was termed their Value Plan.
Update: Link to MAS 90 and MAS 200 Value Plan offer as of September 2009
Recently Sage have been making noise about an upcoming retirement schedule for their product line.
As of now, the following versions of Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 are still supported:
- 3.71
- 3.71-3.74 (MAS 200 SQL)
- 4.00
- 4.05
- 4.10
- 4.20
- 4.30
Although each of these levels is officially supported – Sage offers varying levels of response and support for them. For example version 4.2 and earlier no longer receive service update bundles. Versions 4.05 and earlier no longer have fixes listed in Sage’s knowledgebase. (For a complete list of the support differences see our earlier story here)
MAS90 and MAS200 supported versions list
March 18, 2009
Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 version 3.71 and higher are presently supported by Sage. This means that in most instances you can obtain the current release levels, service updates (if any) as well as tax table updates.
There are some restrictions on what older versions of MAS 90 and MAS 200 are entitled to.
For example, versions 4.20 and earlier no longer receive service updates. Instead if you find an error you’ll have to beg and plead ask for an individual program fix. Also, version 4.05 and lower no longer have the knowledgebase kept up to date – so if you’re looking for a problem report on a version 4.0 issue you’ll probably not have much luck.
Curious what the restrictions are on the supported levels of Sage MAS 90, MAS 200 (and MAS 500 is even thrown in for good luck)?
Here’s the PDF showing all versions starting with 4.30 and their appropriate level of support.
Supported Versions Policy MAS90 MAS200 MAS500
IRS updated withholding tax schedules released 2-21-09
February 26, 2009
The Internal Revenue Service today released new withholding tables that will result in more take-home pay this spring for millions of American workers.
The new tables incorporate the new Making Work Pay credit, one of the key tax provisions included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that became law earlier this week.
UPDATE: 12/24/09 – The 2010 IRS Withholding Tax Tables have been released and we have a copy at this link.
“For most taxpayers, the additional credit will automatically start showing up in their paychecks this spring,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Since employers and payroll companies will handle this change, people typically won’t need to take any additional action. The IRS will continue working to implement this and other provisions of the new law as quickly as possible.”
The new withholding tables, along with other instructions related to the new tax law, will be incorporated in new Publication 15-T. This publication will be posted to this Web site next week and mailed to more than 9 million employers in mid-March. The IRS asks that employers start using these new tables as soon as possible but not later than April 1. Most workers will see a boost in their take-home pay soon thereafter.
Eligible workers will get the benefit of this change without any action on their part. This means that workers don’t need to fill out a new W-4 withholding form to get the Making Work Pay credit reflected in their take-home pay. A Form W-4 will not need to be submitted for the automatic withholding change. Individuals and couples with multiple jobs may want to submit revised Form W-4 forms to ensure enough withholding is held to cover the tax for the combined income. Publication 919 provides additional guidance for tax withholding.
Available for tax years 2009 and 2010, the Making Work Pay credit is 6.2 percent of a taxpayer’s earned income with a maximum credit of $800 for a married couple filing a joint return and $400 for other taxpayers, but it is phased out for higher income taxpayers. Most workers will qualify for the maximum credit. Because the credit is refundable (people can get it even if they owe no tax), most low-income workers will also qualify for the full credit.
Though all eligible taxpayers will need to claim the credit when they file their 2009 income tax return next year, the benefit will generally be spread out over the paychecks they receive beginning this spring and continue until the end of the year.
Many higher-income taxpayers will see little or no change in their take-home pay. That’s because the Making Work Pay credit is phased out for a married couple filing a joint return whose modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is between $150,000 and $190,000 and other taxpayers whose modified AGI is between $75,000 and $95,000
Taxpayers will not get a separate, special check mailed to them from the IRS like last year’s economic stimulus payment.
New IRS Tax Tables February 2009
Publication 15-T tax tables for 02-2009 released by IRS [preliminary]
February 26, 2009
Tax table updates for Sage MAS90 and MAS200 have yet to be released by Sage. When they are released, those users who are active on a basic maintenance plan can download them from the Sage Online web site.
Payroll tax table updates will be available for MAS 90 and MAS 200 payroll from version 3.71 to 4.30.
The lack of updates from Sage (as of 2-26-09) doesn’t mean you cannot update your tax tables manually with information released by the IRS.
Important Disclaimer: The IRS site states that the table they’ve published are preliminary. Be sure to check back at irs.gov to see whether any updates are released. We strive to update our site with the latest news of interest to MAS90 and MAS200 users – however we cannot be responsible for use of an outdated tax table. Always check tax calculations closely after making any changes to your payroll tax tables.
To manually update your MAS90 payroll tax tables
Obtain the latest IRS tax tables from Irs.gov site (Publication 15-T)
Using the Table 7 ANNUAL Payroll Period table, navigate to MAS90/MAS200 – Payroll – Setup – Tax Table Maintenance and update the FED table for each filing status (single, married, head of household).
Important: It is crucial that you verify the accuracy of all tax computations on the first payroll runs. Be sure to verify that you are running the latest and most accurate tax tables by checking irs.gov for any future tax table updates.
5 assumptions I’ll make when debugging your MAS200 server
February 5, 2009
One of the toughest things to diagnose are sporadic Sage MAS 200 errors. Typically these manifest themselves as Error 12 conditions or cryptic lockups that bring the MAS200 server to a grinding halt (usually mid-day or in the midst of a heavy processing day).
The first thing I’ll usually try with a MAS 200 server problem is running the server app as a program instead of a service. This seems to be especially helpful for larger sites (for sake of argument lets label a site with over 10 users as large).
If you’re seeing error messages like “Connection failure to host:[tcp]Servername;####;NODELAY;STREAM” when starting tasks – these can often be resolved with the tweaks from our site.
I’ve diagnosed more than a few of these in my career. While they’re highly annoying – they generally can be resolved with careful and systematic checking of configurations and settings.
My observation is that many sites however fail in diagnosing the error conditions. Below is my list of the top 5 reasons that problems go un-resolved (or in some instances such as failing to have a backup – get worse).
Top 5 Reasons Your MAS 200 Server Keeps Having Errors
- The IT person didn’t do what I asked because they typically don’t know how and are too embarrassed to admit to you or the boss. If you’ve asked to have Anti-Virus exclude certain folders – check that it has been done. Similarly watch them make any changes (again). Yes, you’ll have to put up with some heavy breathing and sighs. This is something all IT people learn to do in school.
- Even though staff will say “It couldn’t be this” – check it anyway. Insist on it. Watch them do it. That goes for any of the Sage KB suggestions as well as instructions on excluding folders, files, etc on antivirus scans. Probably 40% of the problems go away when users actually try the fixes (as opposed to saying they tried them). (Tip: Always backup first – and be sure to read my #5 below).
- The fact that Word and Excel run are totally irrelevant to any diagnosis of why MAS 200 won’t run — but the IT folks will hold that out as Prima Facie evidence that MAS 200 sucks, Sage sucks, Providex is a shitty language, SQL rocks, their MAS 200 consultant sucks, The Boss Sucks and their network is air-tight and better than any other on Planet Earth. You just have to develop a tough skin and keep running down the checklist.
- Roughly 40% of IT folks have no idea what administrative rights are. In general I test for this right off by right clicking on the Start button and noticing whether “explore ALL” is an option. When that’s not present I assume the user doesn’t have administrative rights. Quite a few times after I do this and announce the results the IT folks disappear for a half hour or so. I’m pretty sure they’re going in the back to look up “administrative rights” in their “Server Administration for Dummies” book.
- The IT staff don’t have a proper backup. Drag the entire \MAS90 folder (and all subfolders) to a separate location locally before starting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8_Kfjo3VjU
Our site contains information on the different ways that you can correct many MAS 200 errors. The key is to systematically try them all one by one and observe whether small changes to your setup are correcting the issues you exist with MAS200 lockups.
Batch number xxxx already exists in the direct deposit transaction file
January 28, 2009
Here’s a quick resolution to a very common error message that occurs with Sage MAS 90 or MAS 200 Payroll Direct Deposit (Extended Solution PR-1017).
If you receive the message:
“Batch number xxx already exists in the direct deposit transacton file”
While trying to update your payroll register — take the following action:
- Go to Payroll
- Direct Deposit Menu
- Generate Direct Deposit Interface
- Select the second option on the menu – Purge Direct Deposit Interface Files
- Select a beginning date that is early enough to remove the offending register number (Tip: In some instances I’ve had to go back as far as 1900 even though I was certain we weren’t using Sage MAS 90 payroll Direct Deposit then…;-) )
Link: Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 Direct Deposit Manual (PR-1017)
Error 20 SY_MEMOHANDLER_BUS.PVC Line 469: When trying to delete AR Customer Memos in MAS90
January 21, 2009
If you’ve experienced an error 20 SY_MemoHandler_BUS.pvc while trying to delete a memo from your Sage MAS 90 customer master file (this error will also occur on MAS 200) then here’s something you should check.
Make sure that you don’t have any quotation marks in the memo code. We’ve found that as far back as Sage MAS 90 version 4.1 that having a quotation mark as part of your memo code will produce the above error condition and make it impossible to delete the memo code with the quote.
The only fix that we’ve found is to use Data File Display and Maintenance to manually remove the quotes.
Phone Support Agreement for MAS 90 and MAS 200
January 12, 2009
We provide all technical support for Sage MAS 90 and 200 under an unlimited telephone support agreement. This removes the need for our clients to worry that their staff will be charged for technical support questions. Since our plan covers as many technical questions as the staff may have – there’s seldom a need (unless additional services have been requested) for an extra suport charge.
It’s important to realize that this fee is for support and not the basic maintenance which is charged annually by Sage Software for their product upgrades.
Sage Reseller of Record Form
January 12, 2009
The following form is required by Sage Software before Schulz Consulting can:
- Enter in any renewal orders for software maintenance or support maintenance
- Discuss any issues related to Extended Solutions
- Other various items where Sage will only speak to the official Reseller of Record
What is Reseller of Record?
Once you file a Reseller of Record form, Sage Software will change their records to show that Schulz Consulting is handling your account.
- This notifies Sage that it is ok to discuss certain account information with Schulz Consulting as well as allow them to place maintenance renewal orders for your software.
- You may file as many Reseller of Record forms as you like – these change is not permanent.
Schulz Consulting requires new clients to file this form because it generally greatly speeds the process should we need to access information online about your company (maintenance renewal dates, etc).
Sage MAS 90, 200 and 500: Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Whitepaper
November 25, 2008
Sage just updated their library online with a free white paper that explains how their Sage MAS 90 , MAS 200 and MAS 500 products are compliant with SOX regulations.
The document is quite good and clearly spells out several myths about the act including that using one type of software makes you “SOX compliant” (false) or that any accounting software packages have been certfied SOX compliant (false again).
Here’s an excerpt:
One area that many companies find problematic is if internal systems are fragmented and incompatible. For example, a manufacturer that uses one application for manufacturing operations and another for accounting may find itself exposed to potential control issues. This is because significant manual re-entry is usually needed to pass data (such as inventory valuation) from the operational system to the accounting system. Any lapse in this area will expose an organization to the risk of material inaccuracies.
Sage MAS products offer seamless integration between the inventory system, the manufacturing operations, and the accounting system. As long as Sage MAS security features have been implemented appropriately, there is very limited scope for information to be lost between modules of the system.
Manufacturers are not the only types of organization to be at risk from disparate systems of course. Project-based organizations that use Excel for tracking project performance will be at risk of accounting incorrectly for partially completed projects. Distributors must ensure their inventory levels are recorded accurately so that the accounts can reflect the correct stock valuations. In every case, an integrated system reduces the likelihood of accounting misrepresentation.
Sage MAS Community continues to grow members
October 31, 2008
Even though the Sage MAS Community has yet to formally launch, there are already an impressive number of members signed up to the service.
Most of these are Sage Software employees – which is perhaps the most impressive portion of the current user count.
Based on a quick early morning count (as of 10-31-2008) the forum shows 112 members broken down as:
- Total Members: 112
- Administrators: 8
- Members with Sage “badges”: 69
- Non-Sage identified members: 42
The image below is a partial publicly available list of forum members. Notice the heavy presence of the green Sage badge which formally identifies the user a Sage Software employee.
These employees likely had to sign up on their own and the extent of those who have done so seems to show a big push by Sage to make this new discussion forum a success.
Messages left late last night in the new forum seem to indicate that the previous SageTalk forum will be slowly wound down with members encouraged to migrate to this new forum. There does not appear to be any plans to migrate the old message database from SageTalk to the new forums.
Sign up for the new Sage MAS Community by visiting the site here. At present (and hopefully for the future) reading messages posted to the site is not password protected – though you will have to create an account to leave a message.
Sage Software has indicated that they intend to leave the access this way which is a change from their previous forum (SageTalk) that required members to log in first to the Sage Software technical support area and then again into SageTalk.
What’s new in Sage MAS 90 4.3? (PDF)
October 8, 2008
Are you wondering exactly what’s new in the latest accounting software release from Sage Software. Download this 4 page PDF and you can see what Sage Software is highlighting in their latest Sage MAS 90 and 200 version 4.3 release.
This latest release provides an invaluable new feature in the ability to send all reports, forms, and registers directly to a PDF file.
While sending reports to PDF files is nothing new, the process that Sage uses to secure, name and manage the PDF information is the piece of the puzzle that most companies will welcome. When you elect to send your journals and registers to a PDF file via Sage’s paperless office you ensure that nobody in the office can mistakenly forget to print a journal to PDF. This is because Sage MAS 90 automatically remembers for you. Then once the PDF is printed it takes care of automatically naming and filing the document.
Sage MAS 90 and 200 4.3 Delivers Customer Value In These Areas As Well:
- Go green with paperless office
- Turn your data into actionable knowledge
- Immediately access up-to-date information the way you want to see it
- Streamline your tax reporting process
- Provide employees safe and secure direct deposit choices
- Simplified report selection
- Set income statement formats to chose actual, budget and budget variance information
- Globally change customer salesperson information in A/R
- Protect against accidental discounts
Link: What’s New In Version 4.2
Possible Solution to Pesky MAS90 Server Lockups
May 1, 2008
Have you ever been plagued by persistent unexplained lockups on your Sage MAS90 file server? One client recently had some rather consistent issues with their server locking and refusing to budge further without a re-boot. One call to Sage technical support uncovered a very interesting solution that you may want to try on your server (but only if you’re having problems).
Read more
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Custom SearchAbout Schulz Consulting, LLC
We are a Glastonbury CT consulting firm specializing in Sage MAS90, MAS200 and related software (FRX, Crystal Reports, Starship, F9, SQL Mirroring, etc).
We provide nationwide consulting services via on-site, telephone or remote connection. Our clients range in size from start-up to $200 million and are located as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, California, Florida, Texas, Montana, Michigan and many other states.
Since 1986 we've provided support for all versions of Sage MAS 90 or MAS 200 under an unlimited client support agreement.
You may contact us via email or review our full support agreement here.
Our phone number is 860-657-8544
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