PBJ Licensing
Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) Licensing
You are most likely viewing this page because you had received an invoice for the PBJ module at the beginning of 2017 or have questions about PBJ licensing.
Please read the entire page before contacting SBV. This page should answer most of your questions.
The Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) module was added to the SBV software in early 2016. During 2016, SBV allowed you to use the PBJ module at no charge. For PBJ submissions for 2017, it is necessary to license the PBJ module if you want to use the SBV software for your PBJ submissions.
Question: Do I have to use the SBV software for my PBJ submissions?
Answer: There is absolutely no obligation for you to use the SBV software for your PBJ submissions. The use of our PBJ module is completely optional. We are not the only software vendor providing PBJ file creation. Here are some other vendors that are providing PBJ:
Question: I already had the PBJ module in my software, why do I now need to purchase it?
Answer: SBV allowed you to use the PBJ module to create PBJ data for 2016. This was a free trial with no obligation. If you decide to use another vendor for PBJ, there is no charge for the use of the PBJ module during 2016.
Question: I thought that I had already licensed the PBJ module at the time that I became a client.
Answer: Please refer to your software agreement. It will fall under one of the following 3 categories:
- There is no mention of the PBJ module because PBJ did not exist when you licensed our software. Your license agreement will have wording such as New modules, if created, are automatically excluded from the product unless a new agreement is made between SBV and ...
- The PBJ module is listed as one of the modules that is NOT licensed, i.e. the PBJ module existed at the time of licensing but it was not a module that you licensed.
- The PBJ module is listed as one of the modules that is licensed. If your license agreement says this then you already have the PBJ license, and you should not have received an invoice.
Question: Is this a one time fee or is there a recurring fee?
Answer: There is a one time up front fee and there will be a recurring annual fee due after 12 months. The annual fee due 1/1/18 will be the same amount as the one time fee shown on your invoice. For example, if your invoice is for $1,800 then your annual fee due on 1/1/18 will also be for $1,800.
Question: Why is the pricing the same every year and not reduced after the initial purchase?
Answer: The pricing is a flat ongoing amount for a few reasons. The PBJ specifications are likely to change and keeping your software updated to the latest specifications is part of the PBJ licensing. In 2016 the PBJ specifications changed and all clients required updating twice within a few months. Also, we found in 2016 that support for PBJ related questions was the same for every submission period. We anticipate an increase in support will always be needed because of the PBJ submission process.
Question: If I did not pay the invoice, or am going to use another PBJ vendor, what will happen with my software and invoice.
Answer: Your software will continue to work as is but the PBJ specific parts of the software have not been available since the final submission date for 2016 submissions which was 2/15/2017. If you did not make payment by March 1st, your invoice was automatically voided.
