The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) now accepts electronic submission of single payment forms via the Government Gateway.

The Farmplan Single Payment Scheme (SPS) Planner software, which helps users identify Land Use Codes and calculates eligible area and area claimed for protein, energy, nuts and the Hill Farm Allowence (HFA), now enables users to submit their forms online and obtain an immediate submission receipt. This means that, for forms submitted before the deadline, the user can be confident RPA has received them on time, significantly reducing claimants workload.

Chief operating officer for the RPA Hugh Taylor said: “Farmplan is one of only two suppliers working with RPA to enhance existing software to enable customers to submit their SP5 Single Payment Scheme application electronically for the 2008 scheme year. In order to ensure the smooth running of the process, a limited number of online submission licences are being made available for the first year, 2008.”

The SPS Planner software has been used by many farm businesses, including Lilburn Estates and Whitbread Farms for many years. One of its key benefits is that it can help improve the accuracy of returns and minimise errors.

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