Does your industry matter when choosing an accountant?

[TheFaQQer]

Remember, don't make this decision based on fees. There is likely to be less than £100 pcm between the most expensive and the least expensive. Its more important that you have somebody you know you can deal with, knows what they're talking about and has systems you are comfortable working with.

This.

But still watch what you are doing. I had a good relationship with my first accountant but he cost me a fortune. I have a good relationship with InTouch now and they don't.

(I wonder if I could still claim the referral if I give my usual "talk to InTouch and tell Louisa I sent you their way" like )

[Jessica@WhiteFieldTax]

Thanks! Pretty much what I thought (after all Danbro, the recommended one, wasn't making any specific claims re industry), it's just that when I looked at SJD they were making a thing out of expertise in pharmaceuticals and I started wondering if this would be an advantage.

SEO I suspect...

[Wolfgirl]

SEO I suspect...

Yep I suspect so too. Since I googled something along those lines.

Thanks for all the very helpful replies. I spoke to Nixon Williams and InTouch today. Very helpful and I really appreciated the follow-up emails. NW said I should get an independent IR35 review by an expert and that contractor accountants can't really do this properly; I have looked and it seems very expensive (£185+VAT) at discount rate - is this something worth paying for?

NW have an insurance partner (Hiscox): I need to ask InTouch if they have an insurance partner and compare those costs.

[mudskipper]

Yep I suspect so too. Since I googled something along those lines.

Thanks for all the very helpful replies. I spoke to Nixon Williams and InTouch today. Very helpful and I really appreciated the follow-up emails. NW said I should get an independent IR35 review by an expert and that contractor accountants can't really do this properly; I have looked and it seems very expensive (£185+VAT) at discount rate - is this something worth paying for?

NW have an insurance partner (Hiscox): I need to ask InTouch if they have an insurance partner and compare those costs.

I think it depends whether you really think you're inside or not (you said you suspected you would be). If it's a grey area (and it usually is) get a review from someone who will negotiate changes on your behalf, read all you can about IR35 and get your head into the idea that you're a business, and keep vigilant once on site so you don't end up being treated as an employee. Join IPSE+ for legal cover (and lots of other benefits) - MGM code IPSEMGM0004 for a £10 amazon voucher for both of us (before that tart FaQQer gets in first!). https://www.ipse.co.uk/member-benefits. £185 + VAT is nothing compared to the extra money if you are outside.

Also read the noob guides - lots available here, at IPSE and free on many of the accountants websites.

[SueEllen]

Yep I suspect so too. Since I googled something along those lines.

Thanks for all the very helpful replies. I spoke to Nixon Williams and InTouch today. Very helpful and I really appreciated the follow-up emails. NW said I should get an independent IR35 review by an expert and that contractor accountants can't really do this properly; I have looked and it seems very expensive (£185+VAT) at discount rate - is this something worth paying for?

NW have an insurance partner (Hiscox): I need to ask InTouch if they have an insurance partner and compare those costs.

In regards to getting your contract reviewed for IR35 and other terms - yes it is worth it.

Unfortunately many agencies and a few clients write poor contracts. You are now a small business not an employee so it's expected you read and negotiate your contacts.

Having a poorly written contract only tends to become an issue when they try not to pay you, try to stop you working with a client they no longer have a relationship with, you try and terminate the contract or HMRC decides to look into your affairs. While the first 3 are more likely the second can ruin you. It is advisable to get insurance for tax investigation and IR35 to avoid this as HMRC don't seem to like chasing contractors who can afford to use tax lawyers to help them.

You don't need an accountant with an insurance partner. Just get your insurance from Qdos, Hiscox or whoever direct. There are lots of threads which state who is a good provider of particular insurance.

You should be more concerned in checking you have the relevant cover for things that are easily over looked but can easily screw you up than who an accountant's insurance partner is, for example business insurance on your car and home contents insurance that covers you working at home.

[Wolfgirl]

In regards to getting your contract reviewed for IR35 and other terms - yes it is worth it.

Unfortunately many agencies and a few clients write poor contracts. You are now a small business not an employee so it's expected you read and negotiate your contacts.

Having a poorly written contract only tends to become an issue when they try not to pay you, try to stop you working with a client they no longer have a relationship with, you try and terminate the contract or HMRC decides to look into your affairs. While the first 3 are more likely the second can ruin you. It is advisable to get insurance for tax investigation and IR35 to avoid this as HMRC don't seem to like chasing contractors who can afford to use tax lawyers to help them.

You don't need an accountant with an insurance partner. Just get your insurance from Qdos, Hiscox or whoever direct. There are lots of threads which state who is a good provider of particular insurance.

You should be more concerned in checking you have the relevant cover for things that are easily over looked but can easily screw you up than who an accountant's insurance partner is, for example business insurance on your car and home contents insurance that covers you working at home.

Thanks for the advice, good to know.

I guess my question is, I was definitely going to get my contract reviewed again (as you all say, seems worth it) but is it worth paying a specialist if the accountant I am thinking of will do it for free if I'm with them? Is the paid one really so much better? I realise I can't get an opinion on here but I'm really failing to see how I could ever fall outside IR35 when I have fixed hours per week, get training and need to turn up x hours per day - so in my mind I'd be within IR35 and therefore unlikely to get investigated for attempting to trade outside it when I shouldn't. So yep, worth a review, but worth forking out for a specialist at this stage (and if not with NW is a lot more)? Can they provide the extra value over the free one many accountants provide as part of the package?

Contract review more generally does seem more like it's worth it.

EDIT: just seen InTouch offers contract advice from an IPSE adviser. Also IPSE membership as per mudskipper's post seems to offer a few benefits.

Apologies for the slightly muddled posts, just getting used to it all, but this forum is very useful!

[Wolfgirl]

I think it depends whether you really think you're inside or not (you said you suspected you would be). If it's a grey area (and it usually is) get a review from someone who will negotiate changes on your behalf, read all you can about IR35 and get your head into the idea that you're a business, and keep vigilant once on site so you don't end up being treated as an employee. Join IPSE+ for legal cover (and lots of other benefits) - MGM code IPSEMGM0004 for a £10 amazon voucher for both of us (before that tart FaQQer gets in first!). https://www.ipse.co.uk/member-benefits. £185 + VAT is nothing compared to the extra money if you are outside.

Also read the noob guides - lots available here, at IPSE and free on many of the accountants websites.

Thanks for that! Looks very useful especially as I note they provide some sickness cover which I was looking into anyway. Plus the contract review service...this seems much better than the other 'specialist' option.

[SueEllen]

Thanks for the advice, good to know.

I guess my question is, I was definitely going to get my contract reviewed again (as you all say, seems worth it) but is it worth paying a specialist if the accountant I am thinking of will do it for free if I'm with them? Is the paid one really so much better? I realise I can't get an opinion on here but I'm really failing to see how I could ever fall outside IR35 when I have fixed hours per week, get training and need to turn up x hours per day - so in my mind I'd be within IR35 and therefore unlikely to get investigated for attempting to trade outside it when I shouldn't. So yep, worth a review, but worth forking out for a specialist at this stage (and if not with NW is a lot more)? Can they provide the extra value over the free one many accountants provide as part of the package?

Contract review more generally does seem more like it's worth it.

When you have an agency try and screw you, you will be happy that you paid for a review and got the terms nailed down.

[Wolfgirl]

When you have an agency try and screw you, you will be happy that you paid for a review and got the terms nailed down.

Apologies if I am being dense but just to check: this would be something eg IPSE's contract review would cover, but I couldn't get from someone like InTouch (or anyone else's) IPSE-accredited advisers?

I can see it's worth it, I guess I'm just wondering about how much you get from the 'included' advice several accountancy firms offer; it seems to me this is less than you get if paying for a full review but just trying to clarify - thanks!

[mudskipper]

Just to be clear, IPSE's contract review service is available discounted to members, but isn't included in the cover (i.e. isn't free).