CloudConnect
From £105 per year
Combining the power of desktop with the flexibility of cloud based tax software
The remote working solution
CloudConnect enables people to work remotely, securely and, above all, safely. Throughout the pandemic, it was a lifesaver for firms that needed to protect their staff and their business.
Our CloudConnect solution works in tandem with TaxCalc desktop software, and provides the flexibility of working in the Cloud without compromise.
You get all the benefits of using the TaxCalc desktop software, except now your entire tax account database is held and transmitted to and from a secure cloud server over an encrypted connection.
This cloud-enabled practice solution not only means that you and your team can work from anywhere, at any time, it also provides the reassurance that your firm's data is safe and recoverable should anything unfortunate happen, like a lost laptop or corrupted server.
Flexible. Secure. Scalable.
CloudConnect gives you all the benefits of TaxCalc desktop software, with the added flexibility and security of a cloud based tax return solution. Cloud Connect gives you the complete flexibility of cloud based tax returns, accounts production, AML, practice management and more.
CloudConnect allows your entire accounts database to be hosted from a remote server, giving your firm the freedom to access your data from anywhere. CloudConnect is flexible in allowing you to complete all your obligations safely and securely through a robust, cloud solution, so your team can work together from anywhere, at any time.
Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your data is backed up regularly, with rolling daily backups covering your activity for the previous seven days. Your live data and backup data are stored in the UK.
All communications between your TaxCalc software and our servers uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption protocols.This is the same high standard as used in the transmission of a tax return to HMRC.
Every TaxCalc CloudConnect customer also gets their own unique, ring-fenced database on our server. This means that in the unlikely event that you leave us, we can delete your practice's data neatly, cleanly and in its entirety.
If needs be, you can put your entire accounting team on the Cloud. Simply add as many users as you need. In times when remote working is becoming increasingly important and popular, our CloudConnect solution works with TaxCalc's desktop software to provide you with a platform that ensures business continuity through robust, cloud-based database hosting.
What our customers say
Find out how TaxCalc's CloudConnect tax return software can make your firm work smarter.
To talk to us about your practice software needs or schedule a demonstration of what
TaxCalc can do for your firm, email our Sales Team or call us on 0345 5190 883.
Our Free 14-Day Trial does not include AML Centre, GDPR Centre, Document Manager or CloudConnect.
Features
Protecting your customer account
Your TaxCalc customer account is the place where you'll administrate TaxCalc CloudConnect and control access to your data.
As such, we've substantially improved access security through the addition of "two-factor authentication" – using your mobile phone to send you a pass code to gain entry.
Locking out unauthorised changes
You can set security questions that we'll use to challenge requests to change critical information on your customer account (such as your email address, password or mobile number).
The provision of general support regarding use of the software is unaffected.
Secure installation and licensing
To avoid having to provide your staff and subcontractors with your customer account details, you can create a second account for the purposes of downloading the installer and licensing your software.
Thus you're free to circulate these to staff, knowing your main account is kept safe.
Control user access
For peace of mind, you can turn on Quarantine mode on your account, which prohibits all computers from accessing your client data until you approve them.
Thus you can control who can and cannot access your client data.
TaxCalc Hub user access
Once installed and successfully licensed, getting into TaxCalc is still via the Hub log in window.
TaxCalc CloudConnect increases access security, requiring users to create strong passwords for the purposes of logging in.
Ring-fenced databases
Every TaxCalc CloudConnect customer gets their own unique, ring-fenced database on our server.
This means that in the unlikely event that you leave us, we can delete your practice's data neatly, cleanly and in its entirety.
Hub user password reset
To further reduce the possibility of a third party gaining access to your practice data, the self-service Hub admin account password must be reset by logging in to your main account or by answering the security questions set by you over the phone.
Secure transmission channels
All communications between your TaxCalc software and our servers uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption protocols.
This is the same high standard as used in the transmission of a tax return to HMRC.
Third party security scrutiny
We take the custodianship of your data seriously. We believe that we've built a secure system and to continually prove it we pay outside security professionals to carry out vulnerability and penetration testing.
System requirements:
An internet connection is needed in order to license your product and to file online to HMRC.
Minimum screen resolution: 1024 × 768
Server installation:
- One of the following versions of Windows:
- Microsoft Windows Server 2016
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008
- Microsoft Windows 10
- Microsoft Windows 8.1
- Microsoft Windows 8
- Microsoft Windows 7
- Appropriate hardware to run the above operating system
- Adobe Reader version 9.0 or higher
- Microsoft Office 2010 (for export to Word and Excel)
- If you wish to operate TaxCalc in a hosted desktop environment (such as Remote Desktop, Citrix or Terminal Services) please refer to our Specifications Knowledge Base article for advice
Standalone/client installation:
Windows
- One of the following versions of Windows:
- Microsoft Windows 10
- Microsoft Windows 8.1
- Microsoft Windows 8
- Microsoft Windows 7
- Appropriate hardware to run the above operating system
- Adobe Reader version 9.0 or higher
- Microsoft Office 2010 (for export to Word and Excel)
Macintosh
- Intel Macintosh running Mac OS 10.12 (Sierra) or higher
- Microsoft Office 2010 (for export to Word and Excel)
Linux
- 64 bit kernel 3.10 (or higher), Debian (e.g. Ubuntu) or Redhat distributions
- GUI
- Office productivity software (for Word and Excel exports)
Frequently asked questions
The questions below provide immediate answers to many aspects of TaxCalc CloudConnect®.
If you'd like to know more, please call us on 0345 5190 883 or email sales@taxcalc.com.
What operating systems are supported?
TaxCalc CloudConnect® will run on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems (or any combination of the three), subject to our system requirements.
Is TaxCalc CloudConnect® fast?
Yes. Since TaxCalc CloudConnect® transmits data only, rather than entire web pages, we have been able to achieve acceptable performance even when run through a tethered mobile phone on a 3G network. We recommend that you use a broadband Internet connection with a download speed of at least 4Mbps (megabits per second), an upload speed of at least 2Mbps, and a ping time of 100ms or less. You can check the speed of your broadband by visiting www.speedtest.net.
Can I try TaxCalc CloudConnect®?
TaxCalc CloudConnect® is now available to purchase. Please call us on 0345 5190 883 or email sales@taxcalc.com.
Is TaxCalc CloudConnect® an annual contract?
Yes. In the same way you would buy an annual licence of your TaxCalc software, you commit to the TaxCalc CloudConnect® service on an annual basis.
If you would like to rearrange your current TaxCalc licences so that they all co-terminate, please call us on 0345 5190 883 or at sales@taxcalc.com.
How do I pay for TaxCalc CloudConnect®?
You can pay for TaxCalc CloudConnect® in full as you would your TaxCalc software or for TaxCalc CloudConnect® for 5 users or above you can take up our monthly payment option. This will charge your debit or credit card for one twelfth of the annual cost (e.g. £28.33 + VAT per batch of five concurrent users) on a monthly basis.
Our website will guide you through this process (it's very simple). Alternatively, please contact us on 0345 5190 883 or at sales@taxcalc.com to discuss your requirements.
How do you keep my debit or credit card details safe?
TaxCalc has never handled nor stored card details itself and the monthly payment scheme will be no exception. We have always used a third party provider for online payments called Secure Trading, which is a fully certified PCI DSS Level 1 payment service provider.
PCI stands for the Payment Card Industry and DSS stands for Data Security Standard. You can find out more about this by visiting Secure Trading's website.
Do I need to buy TaxCalc CloudConnect® to take advantage of monthly payments?
You do not necessarily need to buy TaxCalc CloudConnect® to take advantage of monthly payments. If the value of products that you wish to buy from us exceeds £800 before VAT, contact us on 0345 5190 883 or at sales@taxcalc.com.
Do I have to pay per user?
TaxCalc CloudConnect® 1 is sold for 1 user at £100 per annum, CloudConnect® 2 allows for 2 concurrent users at £200. If more users are required the next product is TaxCalc CloudConnect®.
TaxCalc CloudConnect® is sold in batches of five users at £340 per annum or £28.33 per batch per month.
Will TaxCalc CloudConnect® automatically renew after twelve months?
As with all of our products, we won't assume that you will automatically renew, so you'll be invited to renew your licence 30 days before it expires. If you forget, you can simply buy the product again to resume the service.
I'm an existing TaxCalc customer. How easy is it for me to move my data to the cloud?
It's very easy to adopt TaxCalc CloudConnect®. You can migrate your data using our simple to use self service migration tool or we'll manage the migration of data from your existing setup to the Cloud, charging £100 + VAT per database migrated.
We can migrate a complete server installation or a single standalone database. If you have deployed TaxCalc using multiple standalone databases, please contact us on 0345 5190 883 or at sales@taxcalc.com to discuss your options.
Do you offer out of hours support?
Our support channels will remain the same. However, we know how important it will be to ensure continuity of service, which is why we've built the system with multiple levels of redundancy and monitoring that will alert us immediately if issues arise.
Is TaxCalc CloudConnect® accessed through my browser?
No. TaxCalc CloudConnect® works through the existing desktop software. This provides you with all of the power and features of the desktop software but, since it's only small packets of data moving through the Internet and not entire web pages, a high level of performance is achievable.
Is TaxCalc CloudConnect® the same as a hosted desktop?
No. We are not hosting the software, let alone an entire desktop computer. Instead, we are hosting your data, which your TaxCalc software can connect to from anywhere with an internet connection.