Jennifer Adams is Consulting Editor of AccountingWEB and is a professional business author specialising in corporate governance and taxation. She runs her own accounting and consultancy business with offices based in Surrey and Dorset.
In reply to Mr awol... I only have a few with STO - its the rest I want to come onboard.
I was thinking that as many clients are gong to be strapped for cash this year I'd offer POA to all
I might be tempting fate here... but apart from clients who have come to me for advice when they already in an investigation my firm has never had an investigation is all its 45 year of trading but I feel that all accountancy firms should have a policy.
When this subject has been discussed previously on Accweb some accs took great delight in saying that they make a lot of money out of charging clients for such insurance.
It is expensive to do it on a client by client basis so we have a block/ firms policy that my firms pays for and then charges each client. I charge a nominal sum for those clients who are most likely not have an investigation and 'weight' those who might (e.g those with lots of entries not ones I think might be hiding things!).
I make the total so I cover the premium and then a bit more so in reality it doesnt cost me anything and as a bonus you receive a very good support advice line (I'm with Croner) which is effectively free to the firm.
when I took on the policy I asked all clients if they wanted it and only a couple said no. New clients are asked when they are taken on as well - none have declined as I have made the cost relatively low.
As per the other comments - yes.. MTD will go ahead.
But we'll be Ok - we'll deal with it. No worries.
After all - we've dealt with the mess that was the Job Retention scheme!
I'm dealing with a VAT registered company who hasnt submitted VAT returns, CT returns or director IT returns... since the company was set up.... four years ago. He shouldnt have registered in the first place.
Cant get csv out of the bank so has sent me pdf (than goodness for Autorec).
I'm now quite chummy with 'Dave' the VAT inspector - I've not 'met' the CT inspector yet although I presume I have that joy to come.
As others have said -you can only point this out to him.
But as has been said many times when similar comments have been made.. the chancellor is not that stupid - he knew there would be lot of fiddling and he knows what builders are like (why have CIS?!)
But really... if the money is going to buy items then it makes the world (economy) go round which is what the govt wanted.
The ones to be annoyed about are those who took the money and then went abroad as the money is not benefiting the country.
The self employed were actually allowed to work at the same time as claiming.
Yes.. we all have these 'off days' but then...
Yesterday the postman rang the doorbell and there on the doorstep was a box.
Open the box to reveal a wicker basket with a candle, a bottle of wine and a box of fudge (from Wickers Gift Baskets in case you're wondering.)
Looked at the card to see who had sent it to find that it was a client who went abroad a couple of years ago.
Thought... why???
So I went online to find his phone number and/or email and then remembered...
every so often I go into HMRC's computer and check to see whether my clients are behaving themselves and paying their taxes ontime. If not then I get in contact to ask why... if they are OK ..etc (or give them a rollicking usually).
This particular client was still on my list and I noticed that despite my including a comment under the "Additional Notes" section of the last return (I know... waste of time as HMRC never look but best to do rather than not is my view) client was clocking up penalties for non submission of returns.
I emailed him, told him and asked whether he wanted me to do anything about it for him.
He said thanks but he'd sort it.
Fine. I had email back saying that he eventually got through to HMRC and all OK now.
I just put it down to me doing my good deed for the day bit.
And then this present arrived.
Faith in humanity restored for about 2 seconds before one of my less likeable clients phoned moaning about something minor.
I could never ever work for someone else again - I wouldn’t be the one getting the 'thank you' presents for a start.
My answers
In reply to Mr awol... I only have a few with STO - its the rest I want to come onboard.
I was thinking that as many clients are gong to be strapped for cash this year I'd offer POA to all
Personally I wouldnt have waited this long.
Take them to court and read this article before you do.
Get the details right : taking a client to court. (bit old at 2017 but nothing has changed)
https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/general-practice/get-the-detail...
The courts are currently taking about a year to settle such cases so best to start now.
as frankx says the individual directors are liable.
Do a bit of due diligence and remember that HMRC now have first pickings
I might be tempting fate here... but apart from clients who have come to me for advice when they already in an investigation my firm has never had an investigation is all its 45 year of trading but I feel that all accountancy firms should have a policy.
When this subject has been discussed previously on Accweb some accs took great delight in saying that they make a lot of money out of charging clients for such insurance.
It is expensive to do it on a client by client basis so we have a block/ firms policy that my firms pays for and then charges each client. I charge a nominal sum for those clients who are most likely not have an investigation and 'weight' those who might (e.g those with lots of entries not ones I think might be hiding things!).
I make the total so I cover the premium and then a bit more so in reality it doesnt cost me anything and as a bonus you receive a very good support advice line (I'm with Croner) which is effectively free to the firm.
when I took on the policy I asked all clients if they wanted it and only a couple said no. New clients are asked when they are taken on as well - none have declined as I have made the cost relatively low.
... and you have time for this have you?
More likely end Feb for me
May I direct you to an article on this very subject?
See here - an article on how and whether you should bother submitting a SARS. Its not a five minute job
https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/practice/general-practice/should-you-bot...
'Should you bother to submit a SARS?'
It quotes 3 suggestions by David Winch about what you should consider when making a report and gives links to authorities.
As per the other comments - yes.. MTD will go ahead.
But we'll be Ok - we'll deal with it. No worries.
After all - we've dealt with the mess that was the Job Retention scheme!
Sounds like a joy to me!
I'm dealing with a VAT registered company who hasnt submitted VAT returns, CT returns or director IT returns... since the company was set up.... four years ago. He shouldnt have registered in the first place.
Cant get csv out of the bank so has sent me pdf (than goodness for Autorec).
I'm now quite chummy with 'Dave' the VAT inspector - I've not 'met' the CT inspector yet although I presume I have that joy to come.
And yes... billed on acc in advance.
As others have said -you can only point this out to him.
But as has been said many times when similar comments have been made.. the chancellor is not that stupid - he knew there would be lot of fiddling and he knows what builders are like (why have CIS?!)
But really... if the money is going to buy items then it makes the world (economy) go round which is what the govt wanted.
The ones to be annoyed about are those who took the money and then went abroad as the money is not benefiting the country.
The self employed were actually allowed to work at the same time as claiming.
Yes.. we all have these 'off days' but then...
Yesterday the postman rang the doorbell and there on the doorstep was a box.
Open the box to reveal a wicker basket with a candle, a bottle of wine and a box of fudge (from Wickers Gift Baskets in case you're wondering.)
Looked at the card to see who had sent it to find that it was a client who went abroad a couple of years ago.
Thought... why???
So I went online to find his phone number and/or email and then remembered...
every so often I go into HMRC's computer and check to see whether my clients are behaving themselves and paying their taxes ontime. If not then I get in contact to ask why... if they are OK ..etc (or give them a rollicking usually).
This particular client was still on my list and I noticed that despite my including a comment under the "Additional Notes" section of the last return (I know... waste of time as HMRC never look but best to do rather than not is my view) client was clocking up penalties for non submission of returns.
I emailed him, told him and asked whether he wanted me to do anything about it for him.
He said thanks but he'd sort it.
Fine. I had email back saying that he eventually got through to HMRC and all OK now.
I just put it down to me doing my good deed for the day bit.
And then this present arrived.
Faith in humanity restored for about 2 seconds before one of my less likeable clients phoned moaning about something minor.
I could never ever work for someone else again - I wouldn’t be the one getting the 'thank you' presents for a start.
Property Tax Insider is one of the best.
Concentrates purely on property tax and written for the accountant in mind
https://www.taxinsider.co.uk/property-tax-insider