Should I keep accumulating director's remuneration in the directors account

Should I keep accumulating director's...

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Hello,

I have a director who doesn't pay themselves anything but includes the amount up to the threshold before paying national insurance contributions in the accounts so that the company can get tax relief.  Because there isn't really any monetary value leaving the accounts I have debited the P&L and credited the Creditors, Directors account.

What I would like to know is..... should I let the remuneration accumulate in the directors account or write it off somewhere at year end?

Thank you in advance

Vicki

Replies (13)

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By User deleted
21st Jul 2015 21:03

Where will you write it off to what the company owes the director?

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By Vicki Newman
21st Jul 2015 21:24

Well at the moment the director owes the company money because it's a credit on the balance sheet.  I just wonder how that directors account will look in five years time as the remuneration accumulates.  Is this OK to allow it to do this?  I don't think there's anywhere you can write it off to.

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Replying to Paul Crowley:
By petersaxton
21st Jul 2015 21:57

Wrong

Vicki Newman wrote:

Well at the moment the director owes the company money because it's a credit on the balance sheet.  I just wonder how that directors account will look in five years time as the remuneration accumulates.  Is this OK to allow it to do this?  I don't think there's anywhere you can write it off to.

That means the company owes the director money.

Other people have seen that but I will just try to make it as clear as possible.

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By geoffwolf
21st Jul 2015 21:35

?????

 

Do you really understand what you are doing?

If the director has an overdrawn loan account the remuneration is surely reducing that loan. 

However you say that he has a credit in the balance sheet. Do you mean the balance sheet item is a debtor balance?

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By cheekychappy
21st Jul 2015 21:42

STOP!
It is worrying that you have clients and don't understand the concept of debits and credits on a DLA.

The best thing you can do is stop charging unsuspecting clients who are placing their trust in you and hand them over to someone who knows what they are doing.

In the meantime, you can get some experience and a qualification. Until then, you should not be holding yourself out as an accountant.

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By andy.partridge
21st Jul 2015 22:11

Maybe it's a debit on the balance sheet. Best not take anything for granted.

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Replying to Wilson Philips:
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By Vicki Newman
22nd Jul 2015 10:39

Hi Basil,

Thank you for your reply, you have been most helpful, it's a shame others can't be the same as you.

Your answer has truly helped me, I will make the necessary adjustments and off set the remuneration against the dividends which will leave me with an empty loan account.

Kind regards

Vicki

 

 

 

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Replying to Rutar:
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By neileg
22nd Jul 2015 10:53

Eh?

Vicki Newman wrote:

 I will make the necessary adjustments and off set the remuneration against the dividends which will leave me with an empty loan account.

I don't understand. If the company has declared dividends and these are undrawn by the director, this should be a credit on the DLA. Equally, undrawn remuneration should also be a credit. How can you offset one against the other?
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By Mr_awol
22nd Jul 2015 09:01

I'd also assumed Vicki was in industry and thought the above comments about her having clients were harsh - however I've just seen her post here: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/anyanswers/accounting-late-filing-penalt...
 

It is worrying to say the least that Vicki is apparently AAT qualified, acting for clients, but doesn't appear to know her debits from her credits and is blissfully unaware of what is happening with this DLA..............

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By Vicki Newman
22nd Jul 2015 10:36

I am honestly shocked by the some of the response's I have had on here, especially the last one.  

I am AAT qualified and worked extremely hard to get it.  I also worked in the accounting industry for 10 years before I went self employed. Sometimes, when working on your own it's just the normal question's that pop up that you just need a little reminder of  what they are and I thought that this is what this site was for, obviously not!

I will not be posting on here again. Thank you Mr Awol you are obviously truly amazing at your job, I don't really understand why you are on here, is it just to belittle people?

I am very upset about this!

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By cheekychappy
22nd Jul 2015 10:42

Vicki,

 

To be fair, this is very basic stuff. Someone holding themselves out to be an accountant should not need to be reminded of basic double entry.

 

Please don't leave the site. It is a helpful resource and your clients need us!

 

 

All the best,

Cheeky

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By Mr_awol
22nd Jul 2015 11:15

Upset?

Sorry if you are upset Vicki, and in honesty I was going to defend you from the earlier comments as I assumed you were still in industry and making internal postings.  However, I would not expect someone who is self employed, advising clients, to think that a credit on the balance sheet equates to a director owing his company money!  This isn't a 'normal question that pops up' in my opinion.

Hopefully you have your director running a payroll for his salary, and make suitable accounting entries in the company's records to reflect the salary - in which case he can merrily build up a healthy DLA to draw down as and when he chooses.  I assume he has no other income and the company is making profits - as otherwise you may be incurring personal tax without (certainly in the short term) saving corporate tax.  It does raise the question as to what he is living on though and I mention it mainly because I've taken over clients where the previous accountant has made this mistake, because 'everyone' gets the £8k salary treatment.........

The concern over people preparing Ltd Company accounts whilst asking what might seem a 'slightly silly question' is that whilst this isn't the crime of the century, I immediately jump to the conclusion that if you don't know the basics, how the hell are you going to get all the complicated stuff right?

Unfortunately, those of us who have always been in practice probably suffered at one point in our career under a miserable, pedantic, vicious partner who would have been a lot more scathing than I have.  As a result, we are unlikely to mix up our debits and credits in the way you did.  I will admit to a belief that industry isn't a great training ground for practice and i feel you might have benefitted from some training in practice before going alone.

As for my purpose here - its not to belittle anyone.  It's to seek (and provide) advice, exchange ideas with fellow professionals etc.  A quick look through my posts will, I hope, support that.

 

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By Tim Vane
22nd Jul 2015 11:55

It just goes to show that no matter how qualified somebody is, sometimes they just don't get it.

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