Arrrrgh - More newb questions

[bennyboy]

Well as the thread title states, I'm a newb!

My g/f and I are both starting new contracts... well she is and I'm looking for one

As we're newbs we are having to shop arround for a managed limited company. We've been told 1st Contact and SJD Accountancy are great. We've looked into 1st Contract and don't really like what they've got to say. SJD Accountancy is giving us some confusion. There is the parent company of Contractor Umbrella (SJD Total Solutions) and SJDAccountancy.com. We're confused because the people that have been recommending these guys have just been saying to SJD Accountancy and half have meant Total Solutions and half have meant SJD Accountancy

We're wondering if anyone has had dealings with either of these guys and what your exprience has been like.

Also we're thinking of structuring the company as both of us being fee earners, one of us the director and the other the secretary. She works in Engineering and I work in IT - does that pose a problem?

Cheers

Ben

[Nixon Williams]

I would not advise you both working through the same company. For many reasons such as tax, complexity etc, best to keep things separate, the cost savings is not that great anyway.

Any specific qusetions, please ask.

Alan

[bennyboy]

I would not advise you both working through the same company. For many reasons such as tax, complexity etc, best to keep things separate, the cost savings is not that great anyway.

Any specific qusetions, please ask.

Alan

Thanks for the advice Alan.

What about listing our flat as our office? We would have 2 companies working out for the same office. Does that complicate matters?

[Sockpuppet]

Thanks for the advice Alan.

What about listing our flat as our office? We would have 2 companies working out for the same office. Does that complicate matters?

No. My accountant has well over 50 companies working out of his office. Think of a tower block...how many companies work out of that address....

[bennyboy]

No. My accountant has well over 50 companies working out of his office. Think of a tower block...how many companies work out of that address....

Oh good point... I can't wait for this newb fog to clear. Most of what I ask ends up sounding like common sense once you guys have responded I do think about my questions and read the forums before asking I swear!!!!

Anyone have anything to offer on the SJD firms? Some insight into how other people have found dealing with them would be great.

[malvolio]

Oh good point... I can't wait for this newb fog to clear. Most of what I ask ends up sounding like common sense once you guys have responded I do think about my questions and read the forums before asking I swear!!!!

Anyone have anything to offer on the SJD firms? Some insight into how other people have found dealing with them would be great.

The fog clears in direct proportion to the effort you spend finding out about it... Just wait till you get to PAYE, VAT, VAT and Expenses, and year-end!

If you need an accountant, we generally recommend SJD (that's SJD Accounting - email Simon Dolan who can be found as a member on here), or Darren at 1st (if he's being confusing, ask him to clarify then FFS) or Nixon Williams, who seem to have their heads screwed on (or are they merely touting for business do you suppose). I use SJD, but all three are effective.

And I suggest you pick one and then ask them the questions. It looks lilke young Alan of NW has already started doing that for free, which isn't really fair on him, is it?

Can't remember - did you join PCG yet? And if not, why not?

[Troll]

I would not advise you both working through the same company. For many reasons such as tax, complexity etc, best to keep things separate, the cost savings is not that great anyway.

Alan

Dunno ... sure fire way of being out of IR35 is multiple income streams and more than one employee.
Only 1 companies House filing fee,

1 set of Accountants fees

Really depends if you can trust her not to pee off with your savings

[Gonzo]

Dunno ... sure fire way of being out of IR35 is multiple income streams and more than one employee.
Only 1 companies House filing fee,

1 set of Accountants fees

Really depends if you can trust her not to pee off with your savings

Not sure that that would help. In an inspection HMRC would consider each contract separately to determine whether they are inside or outside IR35. So I don't think it matters how many fee earners that you have, if they are all paid by dividends then HMRC will want to have a chat.

[Apollo]

Re:Recommendation

To answer the original question, I signed up with SJD in August after reading recommendations here. Since then, I have raised some issues about the level of service I was receiving from my appointed accountant. The ultimate response I received was to be asked to find another firm.

From the posts on this forum, I am sure that this is not the normal level of service and of course I am totally to blame for the problems that I encountered. ..or am I? You will need to draw your own conclusion.

I have now approached Nixon Williams, who seem to have a refreshingly open attitude to answering newb questions.

Good luck with whoever you choose,
Alan

[Troll]

Not sure that that would help. In an inspection HMRC would consider each contract separately to determine whether they are inside or outside IR35. So I don't think it matters how many fee earners that you have, if they are all paid by dividends then HMRC will want to have a chat.

The enquiry would initiate against 'THE COMPANY' so which contract would they ask to see? & it's a similar structure - although on a smaller scale to the likes of IBM / HP
Also that was the actually comment from HMCR given to a couple (both contractors) I know who have their company set up like this.