Basic Electronic Reporting Tool (BERT)
Updated September 17, 2009

About BERT
Which districts can (or should) use BERT
System requirements
Frequently asked questions
Ten steps to BERT success
BERT User Guide
Instructions for downloading BERT
DOWNLOAD: BERT
DOWNLOAD: Access Runtime

About BERT

Originally released in April 2007, and later updated in June 2008 and August 2009, our Basic Electronic Reporting Tool (BERT) is designed to provide all school districts with an easy-to-use retirement deduction reporting tool that requires less data entry, features user-friendly input screens and is fully compliant with our employer reporting requirements (807 CMR 5.00).

Using the latest release of BERT, you—school district payroll officials—can:

• create your monthly deduction report database right on your desktop computer,
• create, change and delete employees’ records as needed,
• test your output file for common reporting errors with BERT 2.1’s more stringent data standards, and correct them BEFORE you submit your report to the MTRS, and
• export your monthly deduction report to your local hard drive, diskette, CD and/or other media.

You will still need to send us your file on diskette or CD, along with your payment check and MTRS Retirement Deduction Submittal Sheet (pdf; 1 page). While BERT provides an up-to-date reporting tool, we are still not able to accept your deduction reports through electronic transmission—although we are working toward that goal. For additional information and where to send your reports, please see Submitting your payroll deduction reports.

Which districts can (or should) use BERT

All districts should use BERT, as it allows you to review your monthly reports BEFORE submitting them for processing. BERT will quickly and clearly identify the most common reporting errors, allowing you to correct them prior to your submittal.

System requirements

BERT 2.1 is a Microsoft Access application. In order to run BERT, you must either have Microsoft Access Runtime or Microsoft Access 2000 or later, installed on your PC. Information on obtaining and downloading Access Runtime for free are located in section 2.2. [Note to Macintosh users: Since MS Access is not available in a Mac-compatible version; you will not be able to use BERT unless you have both the PC-version of Access Runtime and Virtual PC installed on your Mac.]

Frequently asked questions

We’ve never used BERT. Do we need to start now?
Yes. The MTRS is now strongly recommending that all school districts use BERT to test their MTRS reports for errors before submitting them for processing. BERT includes an easy-to-use and comprehenseive error reporting feature so you can check your reports right on your desktop. It is your data; please make sure it is accurate. By detecting and correcting problems prior to submittal, you will allow the MTRS to post your reports sooner and provide benefits to your employees in a more efficient and timely manner.

We are using BERT 1.0 or BERT 2.0. Do we need to upgrade to this new version?
Yes. We received valuable feedback from school district administrators on our two previous releases, and this new version offers an enhanced version of a significant and very helpful feature of BERT 2.0: an error report generation function that allows users to test their reports BEFORE submitting them to us.

Will my old files be compatible with this new version?
Absolutely—not only are your old BERT files compatible, your old AutoReport files are compatible, and, if you are using a payroll vendor that produces an MTRS file for you, those files are also compatible.

Can I submit my deduction reports online now?
No—while BERT provides an easy-to-use tool to prepare your reports, it does not allow you to submit them through electronic transmission. You still need to send us your reports on diskette or CD, along with your MTRS Retirement Deduction Submittal Sheet, as described at Submitting your payroll deduction reports.

Whom do I contact for support?
If you have any problems either installing BERT 2.1 or using the program, please:

• contact your MTRS Employer Service Representative,
• call the Employer Services helpline at 617-679-6895, or
• send an e-mail to bertsupport@trb.state.ma.us .

 

Instructions for downloading BERT