Old Accountant Document Request

Old Accountant Document Request

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Hi All,

I have a new client (a celeb and do not want to p*** him off.  Yes he is the type) and I need to request the documents from his old accountant.  Can anyone tell me the best way to approach the old accountant as I have not had to do this before.

Should I send an e-mail or should I send a letter or could I attach a letter to an e-mail.  Also, apart from the standard NINO, UTR etc can anyone think of anything else I would need from the accountant.  Of course the year to date records as he is changing accountants part way through the year.

Also, if the accountant does not use Sage (I do) what's the easiest way to get the data the accountant holds on his software onto mine?

Thanks for all your help in advance

Replies (16)

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By K81
13th Mar 2012 14:29

I would just send a letter to old accountant saying something like "we have been approached by .... to act in connection with their accountancy & taxation affairs. We would be grateful, therefore if you would notify us of any reason why we should not accept this instruction.

Assuming you have no objections we would be obliged if you would provide us with the following.....

 

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Man of Kent
By Kent accountant
13th Mar 2012 14:51

Data

Ask for a hard copy closing/opening TB and key this directly into Sage if that's what you want to do. I assume from this that you're doing all the bookkeeping too. 

With a hard copy of opening aged debtors and creditors, you can enter the balances in Sage and tick off the individual items as they are received/paid.

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Quack
By Constantly Confused
13th Mar 2012 14:54

Celeb

Is it Lady Gaga?

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By User deleted
13th Mar 2012 15:23

Wow

I'm impressed. You obviously have only started recently (based on the fact that you've never had to get clearance before) and yet you've taken on a celebrity!! That is good going. I always thought celebs went for bigger well-known firms with proper tax departments. Could you give us some tips on what you've done to make yourself stand out so much??

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By MrDSGrace
13th Mar 2012 23:03

Hi

Thanks for all the comments.  I sent my letter this morning as my post had been up a good few hours with no response and I needed to get the letter sent!  But, after trawling the net it seems like the ONE template I found matches that similar to what K81 has said!

@Constantly Confused No it is not Lady GaGa haha!

@Flash Gordon I have only been trading since November 2011 and already have 3 celebs.  One I met at a nightclub in Camden so then I followed her on Twitter and 3 months later asked her to follow my accountancy firm and she did.  I then mentioned I had met her before (she didn't remember me) and that if she needed an accountant to let me know.  She got back to me saying we should meet.  The 2nd celeb came from her. The third was also Twitter.  The power of social networking.

 

 

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Replying to stepurhan:
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By zarathustra
14th Mar 2012 09:42

Not open to everyone

MrDSGrace wrote:

 One I met at a nightclub in Camden so then I followed her on Twitter and 3 months later asked her to follow my accountancy firm and she did.  I then mentioned I had met her before (she didn't remember me) and that if she needed an accountant to let me know.  She got back to me saying we should meet.  The 2nd celeb came from her. The third was also Twitter.  The power of social networking.

 

The opportunities to do this if your practice is based in Rotherham are less widespread.

Count Arthur Strong maybe.

 

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Replying to johnjenkins:
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By ACDWebb
14th Mar 2012 09:50

Count Arthur

zarathustra wrote:

The opportunities to do this if your practice is based in Rotherham are less widespread.

Count Arthur Strong maybe.

I hear he needs advice on temporary non residence and Spanish tax rules if you are well versed in those ;)
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By MrDSGrace
13th Mar 2012 23:03

Thanks @Kent Accountant!

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By User deleted
14th Mar 2012 07:46

@ OP

[***]!!

I'm beginning to wonder if Henry isn't putting a few fictitious posts in to amuse us :) You couldn't make some of the recent questions up, well actually you could and I think someone is because otherwise there are some poor unsuspecting clients heading for a big pile of trouble!

But started my morning off with a chuckle :)

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Replying to mrme89:
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By MrDSGrace
14th Mar 2012 09:02

I don't understand??

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Replying to SKR:
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By andy.partridge
14th Mar 2012 09:24

I'm only guessing

But are they Molly Sugden, Trevor Bannister and Wendy Richard?

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By ShirleyM
14th Mar 2012 08:10

I find your name amusing ....

In fact, quite brilliant!

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By User deleted
14th Mar 2012 09:35

I've just signed up

Bod, Aunt Flo, Farmer Barleymow and Alberto Frog. I'm hoping Alberto will recommend me to the rest of the Amazing Animal Band.....

And I'm mid-email to the Queen - 'Dear Queen, you probably don't remember (because you're quite old now) but we met a while or so ago at a garden party and I said that if you ever needed an accountant to give me a call. I figured you might want to think about inheritance tax and although I have not a jot of experience in that area it won't matter as once you're dead you can't sue me. I'll pop round for tea this arvo so get the footman to make some sarnies and stick the kettle on. Love Flash'  I figure she'll sign whatever I tell her. Wonder if Prince Charlie will be as easy? 

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By MrDSGrace
14th Mar 2012 15:24

I don't why you are all being so sarcastic.  A simple question was all I asked.  I have my answer now so thanks for the serious responses!

And in answer to the stupid sarcastic replies 2 are from a pop group and one is from a TV quiz show.  2 of which were found through approaching them on Twitter.  Why that is any issue I do not know.  Although, I have no reason to explain myself to anyone anyway

As it happens my 86 year old is friends with The Queen so you never know.  And oh yes, I did once meet HM at a garden tea party!!

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By ShirleyM
14th Mar 2012 15:57

Well, you're ok now

You decided to send a letter without advice from anyone (well done you!), and someone helped you with the Sage issue. I am sure you will sort out what information you need from the old accountant when you come to prepare the accounts/tax, and isn't it amazing how many accountants get invited to the Queens Garden Parties! We seem to get quite a few on here.

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By User deleted
14th Mar 2012 16:13

Quiz shows

My mate's been on a couple of quiz shows (not that successfully but it's the taking part that counts) and I do his accounts so I guess I could consider him a celebrity client. He's done a lot of photos of the royals too. We probably all have claims to fame without realising it.

But you're right, it was a 'simple' question and we shouldn't have assumed that it was so ridiculous that it had to be a wind up. So I do apologise most sincerely.

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