Can I accept a printout of a client's online bank account / gas bill / electricity bill to evidence the client's address? Or do I have to see a "real" paper bill?
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is it reasonable?
I used a electronic ID service for the first time recently which came back blank due to the client having lived there less than 3 years.
The company I used told me that even though I had not been able to ID him, I had still done everything reasonably possible to do so and therefore had complied.
In your case I would say if the client has nothing on paper a printout would be fine, you are after all going to have a photo ID from an original document as well.
Go paperless yourself?
We use Taxcalc's AML thing and it works fine for us. Stick in name, address & dob, more often than not it comes back with a pass. Where it doesn't (typically if the person's recently moved) only then do you bother with the proof of address/ID.
My understanding is the "rules" are very flexible, basically you need to be convinced yourself that all is ok. If you believe the person's story, and they can provide _some_ evidence you're happy with that they are who they say they are/live where they say they are, as far as I'm concerned you're all good.
Not everything is paperless
Despite best efforts not everything can be paperless. Has he any correspondence/statements from HMRC - I would accept this type of info.