Newbie various

[Michael Hall]

G'day All:

I can count in 5 human languages and do floating point arithmetic in 3
programming languages, but have NO idea about accounting. I think I have sorted
out the basic principle of using splits to do GST (or VAT) through trial and
error (can't understand the documentation ... as I said, I'm totally accounting
illiterate).

Please excuse me if these questions are laughable, but here goes ...

Is GST that I have collected an asset or a liability? Seems to me that it could
be either depending on how you look at it! An asset because it is money in the
bank I can use to pay my tax bill, or a liability because I've really only
collected it for the tax man to whom I owe it?

Likewise, what is GST that I have paid? A liability because it cost me money, or
an asset because it will ultimately reduce my tax bill? I'm confused ...

Would SQL Ledger be easier to use for a financial illiterate like myself? I kind
of prefer the idea of web-based software (multiuser, platform independent) and
an SQL backend anyway. Because I have never used any type of financial software
before, I find it difficult to judge the relative usability of GnuCash.

SQL Ledger looks like a capable enough package, though IMHO it could do with
some improvements (get rid of the frames, use XHTML, make it look a bit flasher,
maybe pull out any stuff not relevant to Australia). I'd really like a
straight-forward Linux accounting package for the Aussie small business punter
(myself included) ... anyone else interested in hacking SQL Ledger? I'm more
PHP, Python and MySQL, but should be able to get up to speed with Perl and
PostgreSQL without too much trouble.

Don't get me wrong, I'm as internationalist as the next bloke, but trying to
make an accounting package that works everywhere does, IMHO, tend to result in
something that doesn't quite hit the mark for anyone. Interfaces, menus,
categories, etc, tend to get filled with irrelevant confusing stuff.

Mick


------------------------------------------
Ninti Systems: Linux Solutions and Support
Michael Hall
Mobile: 0429 095 392
Ph/Fax: 08 8953 1442       
Email:  office at ninti dot com
Web:    http://ninti.com
------------------------------------------