Tax Practitioner taking accounting work

Tax Practitioner taking accounting work

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I have been employed as a tax consultant for over 20 years in practice. 

Have now formed a limited company and will consult to one or two firms one or two days a week providing tax services and also build up my own portfolio.  In the past I have prepared sole trader accounts without balance sheets and will continue to do so.  I recognise however I will have to expand accounting and book-keeping knowledge to take on small limited companies with  turnovers no more than £200,000 to £300,000.

Does anyone recommend a good book-keeeping course or should I dive in and use something like VT software or Solar accounts both of which  appear user friendly.  To date I have been using HMRC software for the one or two small payrolls which are sufficent and using excel payslips. I use PTP for tax returns but feel their accounts software is too complicated as ideally would need some integrated system like VT incorporating the book-keeping.

Looking to achieve a turnover somewhere short of the VAT threshold to include the consultancy Income. 

Any helpful comments appreciated from similar experiences.

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By occca
09th Sep 2009 16:23

VT is great for small company accounts - easy to use though I have not used the book keeping side of things

I do corporation tax on Excel and then file through HMRC system wherever possible

For payroll and personal tax I use Sage

 

Presumably you have checked that your practising certificate and professional indemnity insurance cover the different types of work you are looking at taking on

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By jake1509
19th Sep 2009 10:17

VT & Moneysoft

I recommend clients to use VT's free Cashbook software, and we use it internally for small bookkeeping jobs & VAT return preparation - if the businesses are largely cash based (as opposed to credit) then I have not found a more straight forward system than this - and its free. Many clients turn their nose up a bit at VT's Transaction plus as it looks a lot more complicated - its ok once you get used to it but you have to persevere (and clients have to pay for it).

I also find VT accounts to be spot on for accounts preparation.

With regards to payroll - as an agent running a bureau you absolutely must check out Moneysoft - can't say anymore, just try it - you get a 30 day free trial so download it now.

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By User deleted
19th Nov 2009 10:46

Solar Accounts

Have only just come across Solar Accounts and your quetions on their package. Did you decide to go with them package in the end?

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