Frequently asked questions
Company Questions
• Where are the TopSource offices located?
• With what sized organisations can TopSource work?
• Can I visit your offices?
• Is TopSource a UK company or an Indian company?
• What is TopSource doing about reducing its carbon footprint?
• How long has TopSource been in business?
Service Questions
• What is BACS?
• What role does the India team play in the TopSource services?
• Do we need to invest in infrastructure to support the outsourcing service?
• Do you advise on tax investments or file tax returns?
• How are payslips sent?
Portico™ Online Archive and Workflow System
• What documents are stored in Portico?
• What client services does Portico provide?
• How do I access my documents stored in Portico?
• Who can access Portico?
• In what format are the documents stored?
• Is Portico segmented?
Questions for Indian Clients
• What is ex-gratia payment?
• What is encashment of leave balances (or leave encashment)?
• What is EMI?
• What are the different Provident Fund forms?
• What is TDS? (I)
• What is your experience in the Indian market?
• How comfortable are you with Indian taxation?
Q) Where are the TopSource offices located?
A) Our London office is located in the Marlborough House, on 10 Earlham Street near Leicester Square. The TopSource Indian office is located in Pune, India, a city located approximately 150 kilometres east of Mumbai.
Q) With what sized organisations can TopSource work?
A) TopSource can customize our services to benefit any size organization. This flexibility allows for more connection between the client and the TopSource team.
Q) Can I visit your offices?
A) Absolutely. Clients can visit our London or Pune offices at any time during business hours.
Q) Is TopSource a UK company or an Indian company?
A) TopSource is registered in England and Wales, with offices located in both London and Pune, India.
Q) What is TopSource doing about reducing its carbon footprint?
A) We encourage our clients to eliminate paper and transport costs by using our Portico™ Online Archive and Workflow System for all document storage. We also encourage the use of email payslips. At present, 10% of our payslips are sent by email. By 2009 we are targeting 50% of all TopSource payslips to be sent by email.
Q) How long has TopSource been in business?
A) TopSource was founded in December 2003.
Q) What is BACS?
A) BACS is an automated payment service used by businesses to pay suppliers and employees. TopSource is able to complete BACS payments on behalf of clients for payroll payments to employees and supplier payments.
Q) What role does the India team play in the TopSource services?
A) Delivery of all TopSource services is managed from our India office. Client communications, administration, scanning, printing and distribution are all handled from our UK offices.
Q) Do we need to invest in infrastructure to support the outsourcing service?
A) Not at all. You can utilise our software platform or we can operate directly on your current systems.
Q) Do you advise on tax investments or file tax returns?
A) No. However we partner with several firms in the UK that are able to provide these specialist services.
Q) How are payslips sent?
A) Payslips can be sent via regular, 9 am, or signature mail. Alternatively, clients can receive payslips by email sent directly to each employee or batched to a single recipient.
| Portico™ Online Archive and Workflow System |
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Q) What documents are stored in Portico?
A) All documents created and processed by the TopSource team, both in London and India, are automatically and securely stored in our password-protected online Portico servers. Your documents remain there indefinitely.
Q) What client services does Portico provide?
A) Portico provides round the clock access to all your documents by authorised personnel. Besides making access to archived documents more efficient, Portico allows decreased dependence on paper-based filing, saving you money and reducing your overall carbon footprint.
Q) How do I access my documents stored in Portico?
A) Portico is always accessible to authorised personnel from any web-ready computer in the world. This password-protected secure service allows unlimited contact with any necessary documents at any time.
Q) Who can access Portico?
A) Access to Portico is determined by the client. You can grant and restrict access to Portico to anyone based upon their need for the services provided.
Q) In what format are the documents stored?
A) Documents are scanned and stored on Portico in PDF format.
Q) Is Portico segmented?
A) Portico may be segmented based upon the requirements of the client. Payroll, accounting, and HR documents can be separated and organized for easy access.
| Questions for Indian Clients |
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Q) What is ex-gratia payment?
A) This is a type of bonus payment, usually given over and above the statutory provisions. The ex-gratia payments are taxable.
Q) What is encashment of leave balances (or leave encashment)?
A) In some organisations, employees can encash their leave balances after a certain point in time. The number of untaken holidays is paid in cash in lieu of holidays. When an employee leaves, the holiday balances to the employee 's credit are paid out in cash.
Q) What is EMI?
A) EMI stands for Equated Monthly Instalment. This is the amount paid every month as long as the loan amount is outstanding, which goes towards both the interest and principal.
Q) What are the different Provident Fund forms?
A) The following are some of he PF forms:
- Form 12 A – Return of Monthly contributions to the PF scheme
- Form 6A – Annual Contribution Report
- Form 5 – Details of new joiners to the PF Scheme
- Form 10 – Details of leavers of the PF Scheme
- Form 3A – Details of month-wise contribution by employee
Q) What is TDS? (I)
A) TDS stands for Tax Deducted at Source. Employers are required by statute to deduct the income tax on the gross earnings of employees. The tax is deducted and net salary is paid to the employees. The tax deduction is called tax deducted at source.
Q) What is your experience in the Indian market?
A) TopSource has an extensive, established clientele in India, working with all sizes of businesses in a wide range of industries.
Q) How comfortable are you with Indian taxation?
A) Because of our extensive work in India, TopSource can handle all of the Indian legislative issues faced by a company. Furthermore, our extensive accounting and support team can answer any questions about the legislation.
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