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The Excel calculator is an ongoing work-in-progress. I generally work on it in my free time and upload the latest version at the end of a work session. Generally, the beta introduces new features and/or code improvements/ corrections. However, these may not be complete/ may be buggy etc. There is no fixed schedule for the duration of a calculator's 'beta status'- a beta version is upgraded to 'stable release' status when either a significant error in the existing release is identified and corrected, the annual budget is introduced or a 'compelling' new feature is provided which merits early release.

Current items in progress = feature will only be available in Excel 2007 version

Nothing under active development at present- ideas in mind include allowing for a 'year-of-marriage' calculator, inclusion of an active 'an update is available' notification, minor improvements to the pie-chart facility and a fairly significant re-working of the alert system to avoid the pop-up message boxes and rely on the 'slide-in' style of alert. However, I am in the very early stages of a new Excel based project [not a tax calculator and with an expected development time of 3 years at my own slow pace i.e. last quarter of 2014 :-) which- if successful- might actually earn me some income]. Accordingly, I'm setting further development of the tax calculator aside- I'll aim to provide the annual Budget updates and any fixes notified to me by users. I am happy with where it's at and believe that it meets the requirements of the great majority of employees in Ireland.

Items now implemented

Allow user to send a problem report/ feature request{Status- implemented version 2009-11-08}

Start here sheet I have included a 'Report a problem' link on the 'Start here sheet' (as per top image opposite). Clicking the link displays a form (middle image opposite) by means of which the user can provide information about an error on one or more of the worksheets or alternatively make a feature request. The form will produce a simple text document on the user's desktop. An alert (bottom image opposite) will be displayed requesting the user to email the document to me. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Allow user to show/hide the language bar{Status- implemented version 2009-11-07}

Start here sheet I have included a 'minimise/ restore' button on the 'Start here sheet' to allow a user to hide the language bar and reduce screen clutter. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Revision to the levy refunds section{Status- implemented version 2009-11-07}

Other tools sheet I have modified the display of information in relation to possible refunds of the various levies. The revised layout is more compact than the prior layout and is shown in the image opposite. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Clickable help icons for the required information section{Status- implemented version 2009-11-07}

Start here sheet I have added clickable Help icons which appear when the user selects any of the cells in the required information section of the 'Start here' sheet. These are shown in the image opposite. The purpose of this feature is to bring the relevant Help resource to the user's attention. The icons are only shown if the Help panel is not displayed- once clicked, the Help panel will be displayed and the icons then won't be visible (since to make them visible when the relevant Help is displayed would be pointless!) I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Allow user to enter Jobseeker's Benefit{Status- implemented version 2009-11-07}

Start here sheet Following a user request, I have included a facility to enter the taxable value of any Jobseeker's Benefit a user receives. Under certain circumstances, some of this benefit may be taxable (see the Department of Social Protection website for further information). The option will be displayed if the user indicates that s/he has ceased employment during the year. If the user wishes to enter details, the calculator will display the rows (as shown in the opposite image) in which required details are entered. At present, Jobseeker's Benefit is paid on a weekly basis. Accordingly, for users who were paid on a monthly basis while in employment, the calculator requires additional details in order to correctly compute the amount of Jobseeker's Benefit received in a calendar month (this depends on the day on which Jobseeker's Benefit is paid- in some months, 4 payments might be received whereas 5 might be received in other months). A Help facility is included to assist users with the data. Once the relevant details are entered, the calculator will include the amount of Jobseker's Benefit in the user's net pay calculations. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Allowing users to enter custom deductions from pay{Status- implemented version 2009-11-06}

Start here sheet I have created a facility in the 'Optional information' section of the 'Start here' sheet which enables a user to enter his/her own customised deduction from their pay. This new section is shown in the top image opposite. The user can enter the description of the deduction item and the 'section' of their payslip in which the items should be included. Once entered, the 'Net pay calculations' sheet will include the custom deduction value in the appropriate section of the payslip. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Employer contributions to employee PRSA fund{Status- implemented version 2009-11-06}

Start here sheet A user emailed me to alert me to the appropriate treatment of employer contributions to an employee's PRSA fund- these are treated as benefit-in-kind income and are accordingly subject to the Universal Social Charge (effective 2011). In order to cater for this, I have modified the existing pension form which is displayed when a user fills in a pension contribution amount. The form now includes a link (as per the top image opposite) which reveals the additional section (bottom image) into which the user can enter the relevant details in respect of the employer's PRSA contribution. Once entered, the calculator will compute the tax and levies on the full income including benefit-in-kind. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Family Income supplement alert{Status- implemented version 2009-11-06}

Start here sheet This alert will be displayed for 2 categories of employees (single/widowed parents and married 1 income couples with children) whose annual income falls within certain limits. These categories of employees may be entitled to an top-up weekly payment (Family Income Supplement). The alert as displayed opposite will be displayed in any circumstances where the user's annual income falls between approx €26000 and €43000 [2011 rates]. The person might not in fact be entitled to the FIS- this will be calculated by the welfare office and is based on the person's income and number of children compared to a range of specified threshold amounts. The purpose of the alert is simply to make the user aware of the possibility of the FIS. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Tax burden research tool{Status- implemented version 2009-11-06}

Tax burden research tool This tool allows the creation of a multi-period stacked bar-chart to show how a specified gross pay amount is charged to tax/ levies and pension deductions (whether compuslory [public servants] or voluntary). The tool is accessed from the menu, as shown in the top image opposite. Clicking this menu item displays a form-as per the middle image opposite- in which the user fill out the necessary gross pay and marital status details. When done, clicking the 'Done' button runs a computation process (this takes a few moments during which nothing much seems to happen) and eventually a chart is produced (as per the bottom image opposite) showing the results for the specified time period. The idea behind this is to allow a user to evaluate the change in the tax burden over time. At present, the calculator contains data for the years 2009 to 2011 inclusive. Over time, as additional data is added, the tool may prove useful for various research purposes. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Alerting low-paid workers to possible levy refunds{Status- implemented version 2009-11-001}

Start here sheet This feature is designed for employees on low pay who happen to receive a once-off large payment in a particular pay period. This once-off payment might result in the employee having to pay certain levies (health and/ or income) in that pay period. However, on an annual basis, the employee can reclaim the amount paid by contacting the tax office or welfare office. After the employee enters their pay data and bonus/ other once off payment, the popup alert (as pictured opposite and similar in concept to an 'Instant Message' alert) will slide into view in the lower right corner of the 'Start here' sheet if a refund is available. By clicking the alert, the user will be brought to the refund evaluation tool on the 'Other tools' sheets where details of the amount of a possible refund and claim procedure are provided. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Shortcuts in annual view of income{Status- implemented version 2009-11-001}

Start here sheet I have added shortcuts to the annual summary (as shown opposite). The idea behind this is to maximise the likelihood of the user being made aware that the calculator has certain features and capabilities. By default, the shortcuts will not be visible unless the user expands the various sections in the annual summary of income and deductions. Once expanded, the shortcuts can be hidden if required by clicking the icon at the top of the section (as shown in the image). I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Improvements to pie-chart tool{Status- implemented version 2009-11-001}

Other tools sheet This feature (shown in the red box opposite) allows a user who has set the calculator to prepare dual income calculations to easily toggle between each spouse and the available years. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Improvements to tax credit changes tool{Status- implemented version 2009-11-001}

Other tools sheet The purpose of this change is straightforward- to allow a user to delete a tax credit or cut-off point amendment which s/he may have entered inadvertently or wishes to eliminate. In the absence of this improvement, there was no efficient means of undoing a tax credit/ cut-off point entry. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Negative net pay alert{Status- implemented version 2009-11-001}

Start here sheet The purpose of this alert is to highlight any situations where a user's net pay value for one or more periods is negative. The likely cause of such an event is that the user either incorrectly entered a gross income value or an excessively high deduction value(s). The alert- as pictured opposite- will be displayed to offer the user an opportunity to rectify the situation. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Improvements to the 'net-to-gross' calculation tool{Status- implemented version 2009-11-001}

Other tools sheet I have implemented a 'Formula reset' button (as pictured) in the 'Net-to-gross' pay tool (this tool allows the user to calculate a required gross pay to give a targeted net pay value) located on the 'Other tools' sheet. This reset button will be displayed after the net-to-gross calculation has been performed. It is needed because the 'net-to-gross' value temporarily overwrites the original formula in the cell where the net-to-gross calculation is performed. In order to ensure that the values on the 'Other tools' sheet are correctly calculated after the 'net-to-gross' value has been determined, the user must reset the formula in that cell, which this button performs when clicked. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Allowing dual income couples to display their individual calculations side-by-side{Status- implemented version 2009-11-001}

Start here sheet If a user sets their marital status as 'Married 2 incomes' and chooses to enter details for each person (as indicated by the arrow in the opposite image), the calculator will now display the annual calculations for each person side-by-side by default (bottom half of the opposite image). The user still has the option to show calculations for either person separately (which also allows for prior year comparative values to be displayed- this is not available if the incomes of both people are shown side-by-side) by selecting from the drop-down list as circled in the opposite image. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Entering maternity pay {Status- Implemented version 2009-10-011}

Start here sheet The user now has the option to enter details of maternity pay (under current rules, such pay is exempt from tax) for either self or spouse. The required details [amount per pay period; start and end periods for this pay; whether the employer pays nothing / a top-up amount/ the full regular salary to the woman during the maternity period] are entered in the 'Optional information' section as shown in the opposite image. The calculator will adjust the tax and levy deductions to allow for the maternity pay entered. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

New menu system{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-011}

All sheets I have introduced a new means of navigating and utilising the various tools offered by the calculator. Previously, a user navigated around by clicking various links, which tended to be scattered around the screen in various 'nooks and crannies'. This was proving an impediment to introducing new features and also took up a significant portion of the screen-space. To eliminate these problems, I have developed the menu system as illustrated opposite. The menu panel is in the closed position by default and is coloured red to attract the user's eye to it, as shown by the top image. When clicked, it expands to the open position. The most relevant options are displayed for the particular sheet currently in use, with a clickable pink-coloured panel available to show extra menu items- this is shown in the middle image opposite.If the pink coloured panel is clicked, the full menu is displayed, as shown in the bottom image opposite. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Alerting users to macro requirement when opening the file{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-011}

First time the file is opened The calculator makes intensive use of macro code [VBA] and now displays the message shown opposite when the file is opened. If macros are already enabled, the message will automatically disappear, otherwise it will remain visible with the relevant instructions for enabling macros.The user has the option of disabling this message from appearing if s/he ALWAYS allows macros to run in Excel. The reason for doing this is to make the 'Start here' sheet less cluttered- in earlier versions, the 'Start here' sheet had a panel displayed (until the user clicked it) which was tending to make that screen somewhat 'busy'. I'd be interested in hearing of user's views about this change- use the online guestbook or send an e-mail

Allowing users to calculate their benefit-in-kind{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Start here sheet The calculator now allows for employees with specified employment related benefits (company car/ low interest rate loans/ Employer paid or subsidised health care and similar benefits) to estimate the assessable value of these benefits To do this, the user clicks the 'Let me calculate this' link as shown in the top image. This displays a new sheet (as shown in the second image) in which the user answers relevant questions concerning the particular benefit(s) s/he enjoys. After confirming their total assessable benefit value by clicking the checkbox at the bottom of the page the calculator returns to the 'Start here' sheet with the computed benefit-in-kind amount(s) entered in the required cell(s).

Improved calculation of PRSI & health Contribution for certain PRSI classes{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Net pay calculations sheet The calculator now allows for certain special PRSI and Health Levy rates / exemptions for specified classes of employees. Special treatment applies in respect of PRSI and/or the Health Levy to people in receipts of certain welfare benefits or incomes. In essence, depending on their employment sector (or whether they are retired or not) these people pay PRSI under classs '%2', where '%' can be any letter from A,B,C,D,H or S. By using some of the forms created for single parents and retirees, the calculator now correctly identifies the appropriate PRSI class and rate of Health Levy applicable. I would be appreciative if anyone falling under the special treatment rules could let me now whether the calculator correctly computes their net pay as the rules are rather tricky to identify and it's possible that I've omitted something- e-mail me

Calculating Employer's PRSI and total cost of employment{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Net pay calculations sheet This was implemented based on a user's suggestion posted on the Comment page I have added a row to the 'Net pay calculations' sheet (where the detailed calculations for each pay period are shown) to allow the user to check the Employer PRSI liability for a given amount of gross pay. This is as shown in the red rectangle in the opposite image. The link will only be visible if there is a pay amount in at least 1 pay period. As an added bonus, clicking the link activates a rather neat 'fade effect' to show/ hide the amounts of employer PRSI- check it out!

Allowing users to select from a list of tax credits{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Start here sheet If a user opts to enter their own tax credit values, they will have the option to choose from a list of typical credits which are stored on another (hidden) sheet by clicking the circled link shown in the top image This will activate another sheet (as shown in the second image) from which they can choose from a categorised list of credits based on their marital status.When they have selected their credits, they confirm their selections and will be brought back to the 'Start here' sheet with the tax credit values pre-filled in the relevant boxes. This option is available for both single income persons and dual income couples.

Revisions for persons aged 65 or older{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Start here sheet The form displayed opposite will be shown if a user sets their age (self and/or spouse) to 65 or older. Earlier versions of the spreadsheet did not correctly handle the calculations for retired workers (e.g. public sector retirees don't pay superannuation/ the Health Levy is not payable if you are 70 or older). The purpose of the form is twofold: to ensure that anyone who confirms that they are receiving a pension rather than a salary will not have a public sector superannuation amount automatically deducted from their income; to ensure that if the user is aged 70 or older that s/he won't pay the Health Levy.

Revisions to tax credit calculation for widowed persons{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Start here sheet If a user specifies that he/she is a widow(er) a form will popup to allow the user to set the parameters affecting their tax credits. The top image shows the form displayed for widow(er)s with dependent children and the bottom image shows the form for widow(er)s without dependent children. Earlier versions of the calculator made a series of assumptions which tended to overstate the value of the user's tax credits.By using these forms, the credits should more accurately reflect the amount available.

Alerting users to the cumulative values display option{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Net pay calculations sheet If a user specifies that he/she ceased employment during the year (this is done on the Start here sheet) and then chooses to view the detailed Net Pay calculations sheet, the alert as displayed opposite will slide into view. The idea of this is to allow a user to view his/her year-to-date earnings and deductions so that he/she can compare them against the P45.

Handling pension age-related limits{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Start here sheet I have implemented a form the purpose of which is to check whether a user's pension/AVC/PRSA contribution exceeds the relevant Revenue Commissioners age-related pension limit. If a user enters a non-zero value into the pension cell, the form displayed opposite pops up, requiring the user to choose his/her age bracket. This information will be used by the calculator to highlight any pay periods where the pension deduction exceeds the Revenue Commissioner pension limit. The alert message (second image shown) will slide from the left side of the screen (if the user exceeds the pension limit) in either of the following circumstances: After the user enters a pension value or percentage contribution in the 'Start here' sheet in excess of the relevant Revenue Commissioner limit. After the user activates the 'Net pay calculations sheet' if the pension value on the 'Start here' sheet exceeds the relevant limit.

Tax refund information improvements{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Net pay calculations sheet I have changed the display of this item so that it is only visible when relevant i.e. when the user is due a tax refund from the tax office as a result of having no income in a particular pay period/periods. Previously, the row was ALWAYS visible, irrespective of whether a tax refund was due. This contributed to an unnecessarily cluttered interface and I have implemented the changes as shown in the images opposite and described below. The top image shows the relevant row when no tax refund from the tax office is due. The bottom image shows the display and visible comment which will alert the user to the possibility of a refund.

Toggle between period pay calculations and cumulative year-to-date calculations{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Net pay calculations sheet This feature will allow the user to switch between displaying the individual pay calculations for each pay period and the cumulative year-to-date values as at each period i.e. the user could effectively view his/her P60 or P45 values for each period. As of 17th April 2010, most formula adjustments have been completed. The top image opposite shows the gross pay values for individual periods (€2500 per month). By clicking the blue link, the aggregate values for all months are shown in each period, as shown in the bottom image opposite- month 2 shows the gross pay value of €5000, this being the sum of all pay for both months 1 and 2.

Pie chart improvements{Status- Implemented version 2009-10-010}

Other tools sheet- I have refined the handling of 'exception cases' (i.e. where no deductions from income have occurred) so that the error messages which are displayed more accurately advise the user of the reason why a pie-chart cannot be created. The message opposite is displayed if no income has been entered by the user. For 'married 2 income couples', the message identifies which person needs to enter an income value [the text 'your spouse' in the image opposite changes to 'you' depending on which person's details are being displayed]. The user is offered the opportunity to enter an income value in the 'Start here' sheet. The message opposite is displayed if an income has been entered by the user but it is too low to attract any deductions.

User rating form {Status-Implemented version 2009-10-009}

Working finally! . I am very keen to get user feedback and am hoping that this form will make it easier to provide feedback. The Net pay calculations sheets and Other tools sheet will have a 'Rate the calculator' link. Clicking it will show a rating form per the image opposite.The user can also leave a text comment for suggestions or general comments. When the user clicks the 'Create rating file' button, the message opposite pops up alerting him/her that a text file has been created on the desktop and should be emailed to me.

Incorporating marginal relief for employees aged over 65 {Status-Implemented version 2009-10-009}

In progress / almost working [5th April 2010]. This relief is unlikely to apply to the great majority of users. However, it seems to be relatively easy to implement so I hope to check the current coding in the next short while. Update: Not as easy as I thought- the calculator allows for single people aged 65+/ married 1 income aged 65+ but I can't set it up for Married 2 incomes. However, the number of users to which this could be expected to apply (married couples, both employees, one person at least aged 65) must be pretty small so I'm going to omit that aspect of the update.

Help translate request {Status-Implemented version 2009-10-009}

The idea behind this is to try get volunteers with English and 1 or more other language skills to help improve the current standard of translation of the calculator Start page and Help files. When a user sets his/her language, the box as indicated in the image opposite pops-up. Clicking the link opens the web-page with the translation request and required file.