CAN ANYONE TELL CAN I CLAIM BACK ACCOUNTANCY FEES FROM HMRC OVER MY TAX PROBLEM

CAN ANYONE TELL CAN I CLAIM BACK ACCOUNTANCY...

Didn't find your answer?

CAN ANYONE TELL CAN I CLAIM BACK ACCOUNTANCY FEES FROM HMRC OVER MY TAX PROBLEM

Replies (33)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

By The Doctor
28th Jun 2013 17:32

MAYBE
NEED MORE INFORMATION

Thanks (0)
By johngroganjga
28th Jun 2013 17:36

Exactly.  Depends crucially

Exactly.  Depends crucially on whether your problem was of your own making or theirs.

Thanks (0)
Euan's picture
By Euan MacLennan
28th Jun 2013 17:37

STOP SHOUTING!

and give us some facts, such as:

are you an accountant acting for a taxpayer or the taxpayer paying fees to an accountant?what is the nature of your "tax problem"?

Thanks (1)
avatar
By Tipp21
28th Jun 2013 17:43

ACCOUNTANCY FEES

THEY TOLD ME I OWED 7,000 POUNDS, I WAS REALLY STRESSED BY THIS SO GOT NO HELP WHAT SO EVER FROM THE TAX HELPLINE SO WAS GIVEN THE NAME OF ACCOUNTANTS WITH A ONE OF FEE TO PAY OF 1,200 POUNDS. THEY WROTE TO HMRC AND GOT A LETTER BACK STATING THIS IS MY FAULT SO THE ACCOUNTANTS SAID THEY COULD DO NO MORE AND TOLD ME TO PAY THE TAX DUE.

I MYSELF COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS SO I WROTE A SECOND LETTER OF COPMPLAINT TO HMRC AND THEY WROTE OFF 4 YEARS OF THE BILL BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY 2008-9. MY BILL WENT FROM 7,000POUNDS TO 1,300POUNDS.

 

Thanks (0)
Replying to johngroganjga:
avatar
By Mikec1965
29th Jun 2013 14:11

What you haven't said ...

Tipp21 wrote:

THEY TOLD ME I OWED 7,000 POUNDS, I WAS REALLY STRESSED BY THIS SO GOT NO HELP WHAT SO EVER FROM THE TAX HELPLINE SO WAS GIVEN THE NAME OF ACCOUNTANTS WITH A ONE OF FEE TO PAY OF 1,200 POUNDS. THEY WROTE TO HMRC AND GOT A LETTER BACK STATING THIS IS MY FAULT SO THE ACCOUNTANTS SAID THEY COULD DO NO MORE AND TOLD ME TO PAY THE TAX DUE.

There is so much contained in what you don't say here that makes it so hard to advise. First, there is the true nature of the "problem" arising. Was it ignorance resulting in no declaration being made by you? Was it an assessment prepared by HMRC because they had no information or decided that you had furnished incomplete information? If it was an assessment the accountants you engaged should have been able to argue the value of that down by showing actuals, unless the assessment raised was as a result of information provided by you. Also, the fact that HMRC tell the accountants that it is your fault suggests that any defence that was prepared on your behalf was not accepted by HMRC. The response to your letter of complaint would be interesting, because they wouldn't write off £5,700 of uncollected tax simply because you grumbled. There is simply not enough information for us to give any advice on that aspect. In response to your initial question, normally fees incurred in dealing with tax matters of this nature are not usually allowable. Tax penalties and legal& professional fees in connection with it are also not usually permissible, and this would apply for personal or business tax. However, if you incur these fees defending an incorrect action by HMRC then possibly you could argue to reclaim the costs incurred. Normally the penalties would be reversed by HMRC in that event.
Thanks (0)
avatar
By Tipp21
28th Jun 2013 17:43

TAXPAYER.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By andy.partridge
28th Jun 2013 18:00

See the caps lock?

Please take it off and use caps just for the first letter of the sentence and for proper nouns. It will make your posts much easier to read and you will get a better response.

Thanks (7)
avatar
By merlyn
28th Jun 2013 21:35

Doubt it

As if the HMRC wrote off the 4 years you owed then you did actually owe it, the HMRC just decided to not pursue it.

You may be able to claim the fee back directly from the accountant if they advised you incorrectly, but based on the above wouldn't seem to be the case and anyone offering advice will need a lot more information including a copy of the LOE you signed, details of exactly what happened with the HMRC, why they wrote the 4 years off etc.

 

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By frustratedwithhmrc
28th Jun 2013 23:22

ALSO MAYBE

YOU SHOULD THINK YOURSELF LUCKY THAT YOUR ACCOUNTANT HELPED YOU GET THE TAX OWED DOWN FROM 7,000 POUNDS TO 1,300 POUNDS.

 

YOUR ACCOUNTANTS BILL MIGHT BE MONEY WELL SPENT.

 

ANY OF THIS GETTING THROUGH?

 

POSSIBLY YOUR FAULT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

 

WHY DO YOU THINK OTHER TAXPAYERS SHOULD PAY YOUR ACCOUNTANTS BILL?

 

Thanks (2)
avatar
By merlyn
28th Jun 2013 23:35

The accountant didn't help, they wrote to the HMRC, who sent a reply and then said they couldn't help so pay the full amount.

But without know exactly what was owed, why the accountant said they couldn't help and lots of other stuff it's impossible to give any advice.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By ACDWebb
30th Jun 2013 00:02

It sounds like

you received P800 calculations from HMRC. The firm you went to tried an A19 claim and had it batted back at first attempt and said words to the effect of  "you're stuffed, pay the man" and that was it. So you wrote to HMRC again personally and on review they accepted your claim and wrote off the tax.That however is pure surmise on the scant details provided [although sort of confirmed by your follow up].

If so I doubt that HMRC will entertain a claim for the accountants fees as they have not caused the cost through their extended failure to deal with matters. You found an accountant who wanted a large up front fee, apparently did little for that and then washed their hands of the matter. Sounds to me like you need to review the letter of engagement you signed with them and talk to them about the fee.

[Edited for typos on the original entered using a tablet :( ]

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
29th Jun 2013 09:58

Not a hope

You (the OP) have clearly indicated that the reduction in the tax bill was nothing to do with the accountant's (lack of) effort. You can only claim costs incurred in sorting things out - the cost in this case was not so incurred. Live with it, and get on with your lfe. (And as others have pointed out - please, please, stop SHOUTING.)

Thanks (1)
avatar
By bernard michael
29th Jun 2013 10:17

I doubt the accountants bill was for just writing one letter. It probably inclided some payment on account of work to be done if the matter proceeded further. Have you asked them for a rebate of some of the fees or alternatively explain how they calculated the total invoice. Was this firm a  member of one of the professional bodies??

Thanks (0)
avatar
By carnmores
29th Jun 2013 13:02

dont listen to people who say turn off capitals

its entirely your choice, for some of us who have poorish eyesight  find it a boon, ignore those who choose to discriminate against those of us with a disability. NICK 

Thanks (1)
Replying to lionofludesch:
By petersaxton
30th Jun 2013 08:53

Solution

carnmores wrote:

its entirely your choice, for some of us who have poorish eyesight  find it a boon, ignore those who choose to discriminate against those of us with a disability. NICK 

Wouldn't a bigger font be the solution?

Anyway, if you have poor eyesight you should deal with it yourself by changing the display.

 

Thanks (4)
Replying to lionofludesch:
avatar
By User deleted
30th Jun 2013 10:58

Capitals

petersaxton wrote:

carnmores wrote:

its entirely your choice, for some of us who have poorish eyesight  find it a boon, ignore those who choose to discriminate against those of us with a disability. NICK 

Wouldn't a bigger font be the solution?

Anyway, if you have poor eyesight you should deal with it yourself by changing the display.

 

Agreed, Peter - use of capitals is widely regarded as poor form on the internet. And just imagine if Basil or Mikec1965 were to post with the capslock on :(

Thanks (1)
avatar
By Tipp21
29th Jun 2013 13:26

firstly can I say to "frustrated with hmrc"  How dare you say it was my fault I owed tax and I have worked and paid taxes for the last 26 years so as for telling me why should the taxpayer pay my accountancy bill is rubbish, if you read the above my employer was at fault that is why 4 years were written off so it was not my fault. I had two jobs at the time and my part time employer failed to issue me with a p46. Get off your high horse and say what you wrote to the people sitting at home watching jermey kyle every day. The accountants took over my case in sept 2010,they offered me a one off payment fee of 1,200 pounds which I paid and was lad to do so as I got no help ringing the tax helpline, they spoke to me a few times, sent e-mails to tell me they are still waiting to hear back from HMRC, the response they got from the first letter they sent to HMRC stated I was at fault and would have to pay the tax, they told me then they could do no more for me and to arrange to pay the tax, that was in August 2012. I asked them to write another letter of complaint to HMRC and they told me it would be a waste of time and to arrange to pay the tax. I had done nothing wrong as far as I was concerned so I wrote a second letter of complaint to HMRC August 2012 and it took them until march 2013 to conclude there findings in which 4 years were written off as the employer had been at fault  As for everyone else who commented thank you for your advise and sorry for the caps,

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Tipp21
29th Jun 2013 13:38

Basil I did not cancel the accountants, they cancelled me. I was put in contact with these accountants who said they would try and help me with my tax problem They offered me a 1,200pound fee. They wrote to HMRC and they got back a response to say I was at fault. I got an e-mail from them on the 2nd august to say they could do no more for me and to pay the tax.I asked them to write a second letter they said it would be a waste of time and to set up a repayment plan with HMRC. So I did not get rid of them they got rid of me, that's when I wrote the second letter of complaint myself.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
29th Jun 2013 14:29

I'm not sure why this is generating so much discussion.

Basil's initial response was correct, though I would have expressed it a little more concisely - you can submit a claim to HMRC. However, based on the little information that we have, my guess is that it would almost certainly be rejected. Why don't you just do it and see what response you get.

That is your question answered. End of.

Thanks (2)
avatar
By mikewhit
29th Jun 2013 15:20

Expenses against profits

You ought to be able to count the accountants' fee against profits or income in some way, in your next tax return.

Then at least you could be a little happier.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Mr_awol:
avatar
By User deleted
29th Jun 2013 15:21

????

mikewhit wrote:

You ought to be able to count the accountants' fee against profits or income in some way, in your next tax return.

On what basis?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
29th Jun 2013 15:24

I'm sorry, Basil, but ...

... the original question has indeed already been answered - several times. It's actually a very straightforward question, and requires nothing more than a brief response.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Mikec1965
30th Jun 2013 00:53

A further suggestion ...

Tipp21, w`ithout repeating anything that has already been said, I would like to add the following, which I would hope the accountants you engaged should have explained. Your problem is with PAYE having been incorrectly administered by your employer, resulting in your not paying tax for some years. From HMRC's viewpoint, you are the taxpayer and this tax is correctly recoverable from you if the employer is not willing to bear it or is no longer trading, hence their writing to you. It is possible to negotiate this as you discovered, and I think the accountants you engaged could possibly have done more on your behalf, but not being party to your conversations/correspondence I couldn't really comment. The difficulty with the PAYE helpline is they wouldn't normally deal with this type of enquiry and it is always better to try to talk to the tax officer handling your case. The other aspect I would have considered would be the earnings you received from both jobs, and how that affected your tax liability for each of the years in question. While it may have been true under PAYE that you should have paid BR tax at your second job, perhaps your total earnings didn't justify it and your bill could have been reduced on that basis alone. I don't know if any of this had been discussed or reviewed with you prior to the accountant breaking off the engagement, but depending on the details of your case, it may still be worth reviewing.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By carnmores
30th Jun 2013 14:31

really everybody

get a life :-)

Thanks (1)
Replying to bernard michael:
avatar
By The Black Knight
01st Jul 2013 10:41

Proper rules init!

carnmores wrote:

get a life :-)

I agree...whilst I understand this has become a hanging offence....It is hardly a law of physics is it?

Just some nonsense dreamed up by a computer geek?

I expect some people having difficulty reading because of eyesight or technical ability would prefer the use of capitals.

and at least while you were looking at the CAPITELS it diverted your attention from the poor spelling and Grandma!

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
01st Jul 2013 10:46

Sorry, BK

But regardless of who invented the 'rule' it is in fact a 'law of physics' that capital text is harder to read. Ever wondered why UK road signs tend to be in lower case? (In fact, the font on our signs was specifically designed for the purpose.)

Thanks (1)
avatar
By merlyn
01st Jul 2013 10:54

really ?
'Just some nonsense dreamed up by a computer geek?'

You mean dreamed up by those folk who created the internet so people like you could use it.

So why shouldn't they make the rules up ?

Capitals have been seen as shouting on the internet since way before the general public used it, so if you don't like it please feel free to disconnect yourself from the internet and play by your own rules ;-)

Thanks (0)
Replying to andy.partridge:
avatar
By The Black Knight
01st Jul 2013 12:00

you can't do that

merlyn wrote:
'Just some nonsense dreamed up by a computer geek?' You mean dreamed up by those folk who created the internet so people like you could use it. So why shouldn't they make the rules up ? Capitals have been seen as shouting on the internet since way before the general public used it, so if you don't like it please feel free to disconnect yourself from the internet and play by your own rules ;-)

 

Trouble is you don't have the freedom to do that:

We have a state controlled lack of privacy

Enforced digital by default

Mass misinformation

Misunderstood communications (email and texts being the source of many an unintended upset) (capital letters being a petty example)

Are there any benefits? it's just something you have to live with and very often work round.

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By The Black Knight
01st Jul 2013 10:58

and yet people who struggle with reading and writing always seem to use and prefer block capitals.

and the dyslexic have trouble with black on white.

So I don't think it's a case of one size fits all.

Certainly not an issue to get upset about unless you think the intention to shout at you was deliberate?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By User deleted
01st Jul 2013 11:07

Depends on the use

I can reassure you that my hand-writing is so poor that capitals would indeed make it easier to understand. But when it comes to typed text, it is a proven fact that capitals are harder to read.

And I agree that there are more important things in life to worry about, such as which fork to use for the fish course.

Thanks (3)
By petersaxton
01st Jul 2013 11:29

Common sense

If somebody has a particular problem with the normal conventions then they can change their display properties to make it easier for them.

That is much more sensible than suggesting some unusual practices that helps one person in a thousand and hinders the other 999.

Thanks (2)
By petersaxton
01st Jul 2013 12:12

After going round in circles

we are back to it being sensible not to use capitals.

Thanks (0)
By [email protected]
09th Jul 2013 12:57

Absolutely not!

The only ways you can get your accountancy fees back is :-

1) You sue the accountant through the small claims court for bad service: or 

2) If you already had insurance cover to cover accountancy fees against any sort of tax investigation.

Thanks (1)