Hi all
I'm not sure where to go for help so I thought I'd try here.
I have a small (single directory) limited company which should have filed accounts by 30 September this year. My accountant, who I have worked with for several years without drama, let me down at the last minute, citing upgrades to his Sage software which have scuppered his attempts to output the final accounts and send to HMRC. They say even Sage can't seem to fix his problem and he has told me to look elsewhere (he's close to retirement so I think he's trying to wind things down). Regardless of the veracity of these issues, I'm now left with a fine to pay and no accountant.
He has managed to output the profit and loss and the balance sheet and says this is all I need to produce the return and that it should be easy for me to find an accountant who will finish the job for me. Is this true? Can I simply provide these two documents and they will do the rest?
HMRC's site seems to suggest I could do it all myself but I think I would prefer professional advice - and to look for a reliable long term partner to help me with my accountancy.
Many thanks in advance
Tom
Replies (9)
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I’m not sure why your old accountant is reliant on Sage. He could have used HMRC’s free software to submit the figures he had prepared if Sage was not working for him.
I think you it will be very difficult for you to find an accountant that is willing to use the figures prepared by another accountant. How would the new accountant know the figures are correct without redoing the work?
I would request a full refund from the old accountant, as well as any fines you have incurred because of his negligence.
I would then get an accountant on board at the earliest opportunity to get everything prepared and submitted for you. You may have a friend or relative that can recommend an accountant?
Was 30 September the Companies House or HMRC deadline, which are three months apart?
Yes you should take you former accountant's output to a new accountant and take it from there. You could perhaps ask your former accountant to recommend one.
If its a Co Hse penalty then you'll need to get a wriggle on or the fine is gonna shoot up if accs are not filed by end of October!
If you were coming to me right now id b making no guarantees bout meeting the deadline. Professional clearance can take a good couple of weeks and sometimes much more!
But the good news is that if It is a CH penalty you have until the end of December to submit to HMRC, although you should have paid the tax last week.
In hindsight
The accountant could have arranged a CH filing extension so as not to leave you so exposed.