Check out the latest updates for small businesses and advisors, plus a peek at what’s coming soon. Xero changes and release updates can be found in Xero Central or keep an eye on the feature timeline for a summary of some of our bigger releases.
Recently released
- Improved Quotes in Xero Business App – iOS and Android
- Square integration with Xero – AU
- Automatic Activity Statements – AU
- Email Notifications for failed BAS Lodgement – AU
- AIM in Xero Tax – NZ
- Easily Manage Subscriptions and Billing
- Set and View Credit Limits on Invoices
Coming soon
- Xero HQ Payroll – AU
- Hubdoc included in Xero
- Xero Tax – UK
Released
Improved Quotes in Xero Business App – iOS and Android
More flexibility has been added to existing features in quotes. Select either product & service (with the ability to search) or enter your own item description for a line item and when you’ve added the details, Xero will automatically select an account* for you. Other fields are easier to find such as, the tax rate and type. A total field has been added, so you can easily see the total for the line item without having to return to the main quote screen and when you’re finished, tap the ‘done’ button to go back to the main quotes screen to save or send. These changes require less effort from you, which means faster quoting.
*entries that don’t already have a default account selected.
Square integration with Xero – AU
Small businesses using Square can now email invoices from Xero giving their customers the option to pay the bill instantly, using a credit or debit card. Faster payment can help with cash flow, which is the lifeblood of a small business. When a payment hits your bank account, the transaction will appear in your square feed and be recorded in Xero. The integration also creates a daily sales-summary invoice in Xero that captures the previous day’s transactions in Square. You can choose to break down the imported data to transaction level. The enhanced features also capture all point-of-sale transactions including tips, surcharges and the relevant taxes. You can more easily report GST, saving precious time on admin. Learn more
Automatic Activity Statements – AU
Advisors know that creating Activity Statements for clients can be a time consuming and repetitive task. For clients with an outstanding obligation, we’ve automated the creation of activity statements. This feature is available in both Xero Tax and XPM, through the business menu under settings. You have the flexibility to run the process outside scheduled time (8am AEST on the 1st of each month) as well as notifying staff the process has been run. Learn more
Email Notifications for failed BAS Lodgement – AU
There is nothing worse than not being notified of a failed BAS lodgement. Advisors can now rest assured that you will receive an email notification if a lodgement fails for whatever reason, so you can re-lodge and avoid penalties.
AIM in Xero Tax – NZ
Accounting Income Method (AIM) is designed for businesses that have turnover of less than $5 million and is an alternative provisional tax option for businesses. Rather than ‘guessing’ the amount based on last year’s profit and loss, business owners can pay tax based on their most recent GST period by filing an AIM “return” every two months. Advisors can move eligible clients with early balance dates over to AIM in Xero Tax as part of Practice Manager. If you’re a Partner, set up a tax agent so you can file AIM returns on behalf of your clients. Learn more
Easily Manage Subscriptions and Billing
Small businesses and advisors will see a refreshed and improved manage subscriptions experience, with a dashboard view of all subscriptions, accessible via the Subscription and Billing navigation link from your Org or MyXero > Subscriptions and Billing. You can list and view subscriptions, set and edit client codes, redeem promocodes, cancel, stop, and cancel-stop subscriptions, request transfer, cancel transfer, accept transfer for paid and trial organisations, and request demo organisation creation.
Set and View Credit Limits on Invoices
Small businesses can set credit limits for a customer and view the customer’s credit status at the time of sale for full visibility over the amount of risk you take on with customers and reduce your exposure to bad debt. Set a credit limit per contact and view credit limit and credit remaining in the contact card while invoicing. By creating fewer invoices that may be at risk of being overdue and unpaid, you can make informed just-in-time decisions to reduce risk and improve cashflow.
Coming soon
Xero HQ Payroll – AU
As an advisor have you ever wanted to see all your payroll information in one place? Making it faster for you to get your fingers on the details you need? Over the coming weeks, Xero HQ Payroll will provide you with an aerial view of all of your clients who use Xero Payroll. Details include: Timesheet and STP overview and status; Employee anniversaries, birthdays, pay rates, leave, super and bonuses as well as approved/pending leave requests. Learn more about how Xero HQ can help you be more informed and spend less time hunting for information.
Hubdoc included in Xero
Xero’s data capture tool Hubdoc will be included in your Xero Starter, Standard or Premium plan (Early, Growing or Established plans in the US). You’ll be able to easily get your bills and receipts into Xero – say goodbye to manual data entry and get a better handle on your financials. Already, many small businesses today have implemented Hubdoc in their bookkeeping process to work more effectively with their accountant or bookkeeper; creating more time to focus on what matters the most.
Xero Tax – UK
Xero Tax is the new cloud-based accounts production and tax filing solution, for Xero advisors on the partner programme and is free of charge. The first module, available in March 2020, is corporation tax and accounts production for micro-entities and small companies. Xero Tax is 100% cloud-based, fully integrated with Xero, offers a single platform workflow and is #beautiful to use. Xero and Xero Tax work hand-in-hand with a single platform workflow giving advisors the ability to save time, reduce errors and cut costs. Xero Tax is a simple, seamless experience, reducing the human touch points throughout the end-to-end process. Future modules will be rolled out gradually in 2020 and including personal tax, partnership tax and trusts and estates.
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