Forecast Schedules

With the Forecast Schedules option, you can select and set up schedules to accurately reflect when sales tax, payroll deductions and other employer taxes are paid.

• To set up a new schedule
• To apply a schedule to your forecast
• For a new organisation
• For an existing organisation
• The default schedules available

To set up a new schedule

1. From the main Spotlight screen, open the Practice Settings drop-down list, then click Forecast Schedules.
   
   

1. Choose the region for which you want to create a new schedule.
   
   

1. Click Create New Schedule, then enter a name for your new schedule.
2. From the Payment Month column, choose the month in which each activity month should be paid.
3. To save the schedule, click Create New Schedule.

To apply a schedule to your forecast

Note: The schedules available depend on the currency settings for the organisation.

For a new organisation

You can select the required schedules within the settings available when you create your forecast.  Once you've done this, the payment automatically calculates based on your schedule.  You can view the calculated payments, and make adjustments if required, using the relevant balance sheet rule.

For an existing organisation

If your organisation already exists in Spotlight, to apply the new schedules there are several steps.

Select the required schedules

1. Open the forecast, then click Show Settings.
2. In the Forecast Settings area, from each drop-down list choose the relevant schedule.
3. To save the changes, click Save and Continue.

Apply the new wages rule

1. Within the forecast, open the Profit and Loss tab and locate your wages account.
2. Click Add Rule then enter a name for the new rule, for example 'Wages - New'.
3. From the Rule Type drop-down list, choose Wages.
4. From the Select Accounts to Apply Rule To drop-down list, choose your wages account.
5. Enter the required settings and save the new rule.  For information about the options available, please refer to our separate article.

Apply the new PAYE, PAYG or employee payroll taxes rule

1. Within the forecast, open the Balance Sheet tab and then open the Current Liabilities section.
2. Click Add Rule then enter a name for the new rule.
3. From the Rule Type drop-down list choose the relevant rule.Note: The name of this rule depends on the currency set for your organisation.
4. From the Select Accounts to Apply Rule To drop-down list, choose your payroll taxes account (for example PAYE or PAYG).
5. Click Next, then click Save Rule.

Apply the new Superannuation, Kiwisaver Employer, NI or employer payroll taxes rule

1. Within the forecast, open the Balance Sheet tab and then open the Current Liabilities section.
2. Click Add Rule then enter a name for the new rule.
3. From the Rule Type drop-down list choose the relevant rule.Note: The name of this rule depends on the currency set for your organisation.
4. From the Select Accounts to Apply Rule To drop-down list, choose your employer payroll taxes account (for example Superannuation or KiwiSaver Employer, NI).
5. Click Next, then click Save Rule.

The default schedules available

There are several regions available in the Forecast Schedules area. When you create an organisation in Spotlight Forecasting, the schedules available are dependent on the currency setting for that organisation. There are four regions available.

Note: The default schedules are based on the most common options for each region. If you don't see the schedule you need, you can create your own.