Accountant charges for Second Director Self-Assessment

[northernladuk]

I think this is what I am going to do going forward. It cannot be that difficult as you say (and I hope)

Famous last words....

[WordIsBond]

I pay monthly and the demand is to pay £72 to cover the wife's self-assessment.

£72?? Really?

Pay the guy his £72. Keep a copy of it. Then, next year if you want to save the £72, just do what he did but change the numbers to match what he did.

SA is really, really easy to do yourself. But if you've not been doing it, pay to make sure you see how it is done right.

If it were me, though, I'd just pay the £72. It's nothing.

[craigy1874]

You are grumbling over a fee of £72?

Sorry but that is ridiculous if you have a good working relationship with your accountant.

Honestly, you are the type of client that leaves me banging my head against a brick wall, you are being completely unreasonable.

And you are going to deal with the effort and hassle of doing it yourself, to save £72? Unbelievable.

[NotAllThere]

I have my doubts based on these 2 points (among others) that were offered and agreed when I took up his services at his first accountancy:

* Completion of the director(s) personal tax;

If she's a director, this clause would seem to cover it.

* Note at the end: [I][B]The list is non-exhaustive, but basically anything you use during the course of your business.

Irrelevant. SA is not part of your business.

£72. Really?

[ksareen]

Thanks for your reply again folks.

If cost of £72 was an issue, I would have mentioned in the first place. The query was with regards to coverage with the "clause in contract" that I highlighted in the first post.

So if you pay for your energy via direct debit and you get someone at the door to check your meter, would you hand over £72 if they just asked for it?

[Spoiler]

BIK - What does this mean (is it Benefit-in-kind!?)? Yes, my company pays the monthly accountancy fees.

You should be paying for your self assessment personally.
If the company is paying for your SA then it's a personal benefit and should go on your P11D.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

£72 isn't much and seems completely reasonable to me but I still wouldn't pay it, because filling out my wife's self assessment takes all of 10 minutes and I can do it entirely through FreeAgent (as does my own).

[WordIsBond]

The query was with regards to coverage with the "clause in contract" that I highlighted in the first post.

That clause covers 'director(s)'. Your wife is company secretary, which is not the same as a director.

You could make her a director instead and then you would technically have an argument. Technically, he has the argument on his side.

This is not the same as a utility. This is a working relationship founded on trust between two highly skilled professionals. You rely on this professional to advise on decisions that can save or cost you many thousands of pounds. You do NOT want him avoiding your calls because he doesn't really feel you are paying enough and you are challenging him on small charges here and there.

You want a total package where you feel like you get good service for a good price. You want him to feel like he's remunerated well enough to give you his best. If this £72 is going to put you into a place where you feel like you are paying too much for what you are getting, then you need a new accountant. If it isn't going to do that, then pay the £72 and forget about it.

[ksareen]

Your wife is company secretary, which is not the same as a director.

My wife is a secretary, shareholder and a director too.

While I have no complaints for his service (and some comments from a few accountants on here make me feel blessed to be with him), I have phoned him "0" times over the last 10 years. Only occasional email contact is needed when some (VAT, companies house, tax return) filing is due and rest everything is automated as I keep on top of my book-keeping and other affairs.

I have given him recommendations/ business and been with him since he started as trainee, so I hope "he is not banging his head against a brick wall" on this minor issue. This would be a recurring charge going forward (might go to £240 next year), hence I sought to clarify what others felt here.

Thanks for your replies once again.

[Scruff]

He might tell you to FO, before you tell him to FO...

Find another accountant, or move on. From what I gather, you don't seem that happy / satisfied with their level of paid-for service.