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29.4%. That’s how much of my life I have spent in the industry and with tmgroup and I’m heading to another year celebration. I remember going to the head office for my interview in a building surrounded by trees, which sadly made way for our need to use our cars and park them. Whilst musing over how much a loaf of bread cost in those days and that you don’t get much for a shilling now (I’m not quite that old!) it took me back to how things were and how much they’ve changed…

The advance in technology has had a huge impact in conveyancing as it has in all industries

We seemed to go from paper search requests to electronic almost overnight, creating digital plans with drawing tools and whizzy things that could tell us about an area of the country we’d probably never heard of before let alone knew anything about. Technology becomes a victim of its own success and the more it can give us the more we want, expect and demand. I’m proud to see my company not only move with the times but be ahead of them.

Post-Completion is a good example. We’ve seen the time taken to complete the forms reduced to minutes as they can be done electronically and submitted with one button. No more paper forms, the tmconvey platform is interactive and brings in the SDLT1-4 when needed and the SDLT5 certificate returns electronically. 

Times are a-changing and following a lengthy consultation, the 14-day SDLT payment window is coming in on 1st March.

Why are these changes being introduced?

The new payment window is being introduced to help further improve SDLT submission. It should hopefully also bring more consistency to the industry by encouraging firms to use the latest technology to save time and reduce risk.

This is a big step forward and reflects the changes and advances in technology, although I’m sure it will be the cause of anxiety for some firms.

One of the areas that seems to be of concern with firms is visibility and transparency (big buzz-words at the moment) and our Post-Completion services give you this. You can see the dates, times, submission status (and more) making it easy to keep your eye on that 14-day submission on the horizon.

Our integrated Post-Completion services have already saved lots of time for firms – including Cox Hodgetts LLP, who now receive the SDLT5 forms direct to the tmconvey platform within seconds of submitting their SDLT forms. 

They also find it quicker and easier to submit their SDLTs as our intelligent forms only present the fields they need to populate, reduce the risk of sections being missed and errors being made – even on more difficult cases. 

That’s not all. When cases are created on the tmconvey platform, it provides a seamless link with the Post-Completion forms to pre-populate information, which saves time and reduces the risk of re-keying errors. We’re also introducing look-up features for finding additional information to save checking separate websites, which will further reduce the time to submit, as well as the potential for error.

The best bit? SDLT submission via tmconvey’s Post-Completion service is available free of charge to all customers using the tmconvey platform and services, so you don’t have to worry about HMRC’s anticipated on-going costs of “amending systems and/or processes to ensure returns are filed and payments are made within the 14 day deadline”.  

What happens next?

Just to remind you, the measure reduces the time limit that purchasers have to file a SDLT return and pay the tax due from 30 days to 14 days – and will apply to transactions with an effective date on or after 1st March 2019. 

If you’re worried about meeting the new deadline, about to launch into a ‘pesky technology’ tirade or just want to find out more about how the latest technology can help save your team time, why not take a look at tmconvey’s Post-Completion services, request a FREE demo, or send me an email at Alex.Jackson@tmgroup.co.uk. 

With thanks to Alex Jackson, Senior Account Manager at tmgroup

Post-Completion services have launched on tmconvey. Designed to diminish the chance of manual error, this latest addition to tmgroup’s growing services helps conveyancers rise to the increasing pressure to submit their SDLT and AP1 forms more efficiently. 

Watch a quick demo of our Post-Completion services below:

Prepopulated fields make it quick and easy to submit SDLT and AP1 forms

By being fully integrated with tmconvey, users can process their SDLT and AP1 submissions without wasting timing logging in and out of multiple websites. Users also benefit from shared information and prepopulated fields across their SDLT and AP1 submission forms, as well as their cases – reducing the chore of double entry and saving time.

Anna Connett, Legal Secretary at Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP comments:

“Submitting SDLT forms is much easier on tmconvey, as it pulls through information from the case such as the property address. I like the layout of the SDLT form too, which makes it easier for our fee earners and our clients to understand, so they can approve the information easily. 

It’s then good that by the time you get to the AP1 form, and have already completed your searches and your SDLT, it copies across the agent details, property address, and copies across the SDLT5 too – so you don’t have to scan and save.”

Validation and error checking helps users get it right first time

Easy to navigate, electronic SDLT and AP1 submission forms enable every user to progress quickly by only showing the questions that need to be answered. Whilst the online SDLT calculator makes it easy for even the newest members of a team to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax fees with confidence.

To reduce the chance of mistakes, the SDLT and AP1 submission forms come with built in validation and error checking. Accompanied by clear summary pages, users can also jump to any section that requires their attention.

tmgroup are also a compliant software vendor for HMRC and Land Registry, so the SDLT and AP1 forms are always up to date, and submitted directly to them – without incurring any delays or additional costs.

Audit trails provide improved visibility and proof of compliance 

With clear time stamps and status updates within tmconvey, automated audit trails enable Heads of Department to track every SDLT and AP1 submission status across their team – and even multiple offices – for improved visibility and proof of compliance. 

Users can also login and reply to requisitions – without having to check their emails. Whilst ‘impending cancellation date’ reminders prompt to close an unanswered requisition and complete AP1 submissions, so they don’t waste time resubmitting. 

Jane Towner, Customer Experience Director at tmgroup comments: 

“The addition of Post-Completion services to our tmconvey platform will help our customers save even more time in their conveyancing work. Not only this, but as we’re an approved software partner of HMRC and Land Registry, our customers will have peace of mind that our SDLT and AP1 forms will always be up to date with the latest legislation changes. Overall, this is an exciting development for our new tmconvey platform, marking another step forward in further streamlining the property transaction for the benefit of our customers – as well as their clients.” 

Post-Completion services AVAILABLE NOW on tmconvey 

Complementing the existing SDLT submission service, our new AP1 submission is now available on tmconvey. 

To be switched on today, or request a demo. Get in touch!

Conveyancers will soon be able to reduce the number of requisitions their firm receives with the arrival of Post-Completion services on tmconvey - from 30th April 2018.

Designed to diminish the chance of manual error, this newest addition to the tmconvey platform will help conveyancers rise to the increasing pressure from Land Registry and HMRC to submit their SDLT and AP1 forms more efficiently. 

Validation and error checking helps users get it right first time

Easy to navigate, electronic SDLT and AP1 submission forms enable every user to progress quickly by only showing the questions that need to be answered. Whilst the online SDLT calculator makes it easy for even the newest members of a team to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax fees with confidence.

To reduce the chance of mistakes, the SDLT and AP1 submission forms come with built in validation and error checking. Accompanied by clear summary pages, users can also jump to any section that requires their attention.

Prepopulated fields make it quick and easy to submit SDLT and AP1 forms

As tmgroup are a compliant software vendor for HMRC and Land Registry, the SDLT and AP1 forms are always up to date, and submitted directly to them – without incurring any delays or additional costs.

By being fully integrated with tmconvey, users can process their SDLT and AP1 submissions without wasting timing logging in and out of multiple websites. Users also benefit from shared information and prepopulated fields across their SDLT and AP1 submission forms, as well as their cases – reducing the chore of double entry and saving time.

Automated audit trails provide improved visibility and proof of compliance 

With clear time stamps and status updates within tmconvey, automated audit trails enable Heads of Department to track every SDLT and AP1 submission status across their team – and even multiple offices – for improved visibility and proof of compliance. 

Users can also login and reply to requisitions – without having to check their emails. Whilst ‘impending cancellation date’ reminders prompt to close an unanswered requisition and complete AP1 submissions, so they don’t waste time resubmitting. 

Jane Towner, Customer Experience Director at tmgroup comments: 

“With lenders reviewing AP1 submission times, and the SDLT filing and payment window set to reduce to 14 days later this year, the latest evolution for tmconvey will make it easier for firms to maintain a good reputation in the market. We’re looking forward to launching AP1 submission and offering full post-completion services to our customers.”

Post-Completion services COMING SOON to tmconvey 

Complementing the existing SDLT submission service, new AP1 submission will be available on tmconvey from April 2018.

If you would like to request a demo, please get in touch.