Too much time can be wasted at this time of year chasing clients who you suspect don't love you any more. They don't provide the information you need, then they don't respond to your emails, voicemail messages or letters. But curiously you don't get a handover letter from a new firm either.
Do you resign and send a formal disengagement letter just in case they might hold you responsible for non-filing or late filing of returns? Or do you keep things open, just in case there is a genuine reason for their lack of response or in the hope that they might need you sometime?
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It depends
If you want shot - send the letter. If you really want to keep them - write and tell them that you're not responsible but are still there. That way your back is covered.
Interim fee
Send them an interim fee for letters , phone calls, generally looking after them etc since your last fee and wait for the response.
How can they hold the accountant responsible?
We can't prepare or submit a tax return without information and authorisation from the client, so if they don't provide both, especially after several reminders, then they alone are responsible.
it called self assessment
It called self assessment not accountant assessment.
I have already sent 3 reminder (2 by letter and 1 by email) to all clients to get their info in.
If they dont get it in and have time will give them a call at the end of January once get everyone else who has handed in their info done.
All ones not received will be contacting in February with disengagement letter and notify them that have removed our firm as their agent with HMRC. Any that still have fees outstanding will pass to debt collection company and add late interest and payment penalties.
Means that can spend time on those clients who actually need our help going forward.
Some clients
disappear for a year or two and then pop up saying they had work or personal problems.
I very rarely get rid of clients but just put fees up to make the hassle worthwhile.
Me too
disappear for a year or two and then pop up saying they had work or personal problems.
I very rarely get rid of clients but just put fees up to make the hassle worthwhile.
Yes - if there's a job I don't like doing, it can be very expensive. If they stay, I'm well paid for my trouble, if they go, I don't really care.