I'm finding rounding differences arising on Quickbooks Advanced Payroll. I reported it to Intuit but as they had no obvious solution they closed the case. I also reported it through a text box but with no feedback I have no indication that it's being looked at. So does anyone know an effective way of handling this? The problem is affecting information being transmitted to HMRC through the EPS.
It matters because there are pence differences arising between the monthly data in Quickbooks and the amounts being notified to HMRC as being due for payment. And even pence differences between what HMRC expect and what is actually paid can result in penalties.
The differences are occurring in two ways that I can see. In both cases they seem to relate to statutory payments such as Maternity Pay.
1. The P32 report has monthly and cumulative totals. However the cumulative numbers are showing small differences from the addition of the monthly totals. The monthly totals are the ones posted in Quickbooks and are of course the amount that we pay HMRC. However, on the EPS the amounts of statutory payments (eg Maternity Pay) recoverable from HMRC are reported as a cumulative amount and is not agreeing with the total of the monthly amounts. Hence HMRC are expecting a different payment from that shown on the P32.
2. In a single month where more than one statutory payment type occurs (eg Maternity Pay and Statutory Shared Parental Pay) the EPS numbers again have small differences from the amounts posted in Quickbooks. I suspect that where posting in QB the amounts reported on the EPS (92% of the amounts paid) are rounded individually. Then reporting to HRMC they are added together and then rounded, generating differences.
The payroll seems to lack integrity as no accounting system should generate rounding differences, or have differences between monthly and cumulative amounts. Hopefully Intuit will fix this. In the meantime, any ideas on how to handle this?
