How to Fix “Fail to Connect to AutoCount Server” Error in AutoCount Accounting

If you’ve just opened AutoCount Accounting and been greeted by this pop-up: Fail to connect to AutoCount Server. Please check the following: i) AutoCount Server is version 2.2.13.1 or above, and the service is started. ii) Firewall is opened. iii) Port number is valid. …don’t worry — this is one of the most common issues AutoCount users run into, and it’s almost always fixable in a few minutes. It simply means your AutoCount Accounting client (the program you’re logging into) can’t “talk” to the AutoCount Server component that manages your database connection. Below is a step-by-step guide to diagnosing and fixing it, in the same order the error message hints at. Why This Error Happens AutoCount Accounting uses a small background service called AutoCount Server (sometimes seen as an icon in your system tray/notification area) to handle communication between the client software and your database. The error appears when one of three things goes wrong: Let’s fix each one. Go through the steps in order — if Step 1 turns out to be the problem and starting the service fixes it, you can stop there and skip Steps 2 and 3. Step 1: Check the AutoCount Server Service Is Running Step 2: Open the Firewall Port Even if the service is running, Windows Firewall (or your antivirus) may be silently blocking the connection. If you use a third-party antivirus (Norton, McAfee, etc.), it may override Windows Firewall — you’ll need to add the same exception inside that antivirus program, or ask your IT support to do so. Step 3: Make Sure the Port Number Is Valid Sometimes the port AutoCount is trying to use is already occupied by another program, which stops the AutoCount Server service from starting properly. Both the server and every client PC must use the same port number for the connection to succeed. One more thing to note: on some computers, especially older or lower-spec machines, this error can also happen simply because the PC is still busy loading other programs right after Windows starts up, the AutoCount Server service hasn’t fully started yet when you try to open AutoCount Accounting too quickly. If this sounds familiar, try waiting 1–2 minutes after Windows startup before launching AutoCount Accounting, to give the service time to finish initializing.

How to Set Up SST in AutoCount Accounting

Setting up Malaysia’s SST in AutoCount is simple: enable the tax system, configure the right tax codes, and set the start date. This guide covers AutoCount Accounting v2.2 so you can set up SST in AutoCount correctly the first time. Checklist SST registration number and effective date. Confirm whether you need Service Tax, Sales Tax, or both. List taxable vs. exempt items/services. Latest updated AutoCount version. AutoCount Accounting 1. Enable SST Go to Tools → Options → Country & Tax Turn on check Enable Tax 2. Run the SST Wizard (auto creates tax codes) Tax → Tax Code Maintenance → Configure Malaysia SST Click through the Wizard on lower left to add the standard codes. Enable Yes if your business subject to Sales Tax or Service Tax relevant Tax Rate. Enter your Sales or Service Tax Registration Number and Next. Choose Yes if your business purchase purchase charged by Sales or Service Tax and Next. Choose Yes to generate proposed SST accounts. Click Next and Finish. 3. SST Option System generated proposed SST account list. Click to SST Option tab to set SST start date and taxable period. Click Save. Try a sample invoice dated within your SST period. Set defaults (auto-pick the right SST code) When defaults are set at the Item/Service (and optionally Customer/Supplier), AutoCount proposes the correct SST code during data entry. This cuts errors, speeds invoicing, and keeps your SST Processor clean. Items (Stock & Non-Stock): open each taxable item – set Default Tax Code. Customers/Suppliers: set default tax codes if they’re consistently taxable/exempt.

e-Invoice Setting: Complete Configuration Guide

In AutoCount Accounting version 2.2.18.26 or earlier, the e-Invoice settings were located under: Company Profile > e-Invoice tab Tools > Options > Country & Tax > e-Invoice tab Starting from version 2.2.18.26 onwards, all settings have been consolidated under e-Invoice menu > e-Invoice Setting. Between versions 2.2.19.27 and 2.2.22.30, there were minor adjustments to the e-Invoice Setting details. This guide is based on version 2.2.22.30 for accuracy. Setup and Configure Your e-Invoice in Three Steps Configure e-Invoice Setting e-Invoice Status e-Invoice License Step 1 – Configure e-Invoice Setting This section allows you to set the start date for e-Invoice and configure related settings. Check the “Enable e-Invoice” checkbox to turn it on. Once enabled, the e-Invoice Settings screen will appear, and you can begin configuring the settings. 1) Enable e-Invoice “Enable e-Invoice” will be automatically enabled based on the main setting. When “Enable e-Invoice” is unchecked, all other options will be disabled. 2) Start Date Enter the date you want to start submitting your e-Invoices to IRBM. Refer to the implementation timeline below. 3) Allow Interim Relaxation Period Until To ensure smooth transitioning and implementation of e-Invoice, the Government of Malaysia agreed, on 26 July 2024, to provide taxpayers a six (6)-month interim relaxation period from the date of mandatory implementation of each phase. During the interim relaxation period, the Government of Malaysia has agreed to allow taxpayers to adopt the following: Issue consolidated e-Invoice for all activities and transactions, including the industries or activities listed under Section 3.7 of the e-Invoice Specific Guideline. Issue consolidated self-billed e-Invoice for all self-billed circumstances outlined under Section 8.3 of the e-Invoice Specific Guideline. Input any information or details in the “Description of Product or Service” field in the consolidated e-Invoice or consolidated self-billed e-Invoice, without being restricted to receipt/statement/bill reference numbers as required under Sections 3 and 4. Not issue individual e-Invoice or individual self-billed e-Invoice, even upon request, provided the taxpayer complies with the two points above. Additionally, IRBM will not undertake prosecution action under Section 120 of the Income Tax Act 1967 during the interim relaxation period for non-compliance with e-Invoice requirements, provided taxpayers comply with the requirements above. Select this option and set the appropriate date for the interim relaxation period. Refer to the table below for details on the Interim Relaxation Period by phase. Refer to: IRB E-Invoice Specific Guideline (Version 4.3) 4) Allow to Create Consolidated e-Invoice Check the box “Allow to create Consolidated e-Invoice” if your industry regulations permit it. If this option is turned off, every invoice must provide a Tax Entity so that it can be submitted for e-Invoice. 5) Consolidated e-Invoice Detail Line Limit This setting helps manage the 300KB file size limit when submitting consolidated e-Invoices. If you encounter errors during submission, try reducing the line limit. By default, this setting is set to 250 lines. 6) Use Today’s Date as Submission Date When Document Date Is Not a Valid Submission Date Check this box if you want the system to automatically use today’s date as the e-Invoice issue date whenever the original Document Date is not valid for submission (Document Date earlier than 3 days, or a future date). Example: if this option is checked, and you create an e-Invoice with Document Date = 01/07/2025 while today is 24/07/2025, the system will automatically use 24/07/2025 as the e-Invoice submission date when you save the document. 7) Enable Edit Validated e-Invoice within 72 Hours Mechanism When disabled, only non–e-Invoice-related fields can be edited. This setting is checked by default. If you do not wish to run this mechanism, kindly uncheck it. If the setting is unchecked and you attempt to edit any e-Invoice related fields, a blocking message will prompt you during save. 8) Default Classification Code Set a default classification code to be automatically applied to any item that does not have an assigned classification or has an empty item code. 9) Auto Email Validated e-Invoice Setting Enable this setting to automatically email the invoice to your customers once the e-Invoice has been successfully validated. For more details, refer to the release highlights for version 2.2.18.25. 10) Update e-Invoice Code List This button updates your MSIC, Classification, Unit of Measurement, and Country code according to the latest IRBM list. 11) This Account Book Is Using AIP Production / Staging This setting indicates whether the current account book is connected to AIP Production or AIP Staging. AIP Production is connected to the MyInvois live environment (mytax.hasil.gov.my). AIP Staging is connected to the MyInvois prepod/sandbox environment (preprod-mytax.hasil.gov.my). To switch to AIP Staging mode, contact your software dealer for assistance in creating a testing account book and linking it to AIP Staging. Note: an account book with a registered license cannot be connected to AIP Staging. Step 2 – e-Invoice Status This section connects the AIP server to your account and configures the license settings. Use this option to activate e-Invoice on AIP Server. Click Activate e-Invoice on AIP Server to do the linking. Steps to Link Your Company Tax Entity and Activate AIP Server Access Add your company’s Tax Entity. If you haven’t yet linked your company’s tax entity in the Company Profile, click Click for add new TIN. Complete required registration on the MyInvois Portal. Follow the instructions in the MyInvois Portal General Guide Rev 9 to register and link your company, add intermediaries, and add ERP — noting down the Client ID and Client Secret. Enter your Client ID. Enter your Client Secret. Click Activate. When validation is successful, the system displays a dialog with the message: “Successfully validated Intermediary Login & TIN Ownership.” Click OK to continue. If your e-Invoice license has already been activated on the License Portal, it will be automatically updated. Click OK. If you encounter the error: “License Portal error: e-Invoice License information not found in License Portal. Please contact your servicing agent to assist you on this matter,” this means the e-Invoice license has not been properly registered on the License Portal. Contact your … Read more

How to Add Malaysia e-Invoice QR Code in AutoCount Accounting

With the introduction of Malaysia’s e-Invoice system, it’s crucial for businesses to update their document formats to include the QR code and validation link as required by LHDN. While AutoCount Accounting comes with default e-Invoice-ready templates, many long-time users already have custom-designed reports that do not yet include the QR code. This guide will show you how to drag the QR code and validation text from field list into your existing custom report. This ensures your business remains compliant without redesigning your layouts from scratch. Steps to Add QR Code 1. Open Report Designer Go to Sales → Invoice. Click Report → Design Document Style Report. Select existing report template → Click Design 2. Add the QR Code and Caption In the Field List pane on the left, drag EInvoiceQRCode and EInvoiceQRCaption onto the report layout. Position EInvoiceQRCode and EInvoiceQRCaption in an appropriate location within the layout, ensuring they are clearly displayed and properly aligned. 3. Save the Report Click Save, and you’re done!Now the QR code and caption text will show only when the invoice is validated.     Done! You’ve successfully added the Malaysia e-Invoice QR Code and Validation Text to your custom report in AutoCount Accounting. Apply the same method to Credit Note, Debit Note, or any other document that requires e-Invoice output.