Best accountancy firms for LTD in 2023 - Contractor in tech - Outside IR35

[philgo]

( Probably not a great look w/r to the MSC legislation either. )

Can you expand your thinking ?

[jamesbrown]

Can you expand your thinking ?

Well, it wouldn't be a major thing unless it was the basis for IR35 tax loss insurance offered via your accountant, in which case YourCo would be a bang-to-rights MSC. However, the more your accountant does for you, beyond bookkeeping, the less good it looks w/r to the MSC legislation. Given the uncertainty surrounding its interpretation and the clear direction of travel w/r to CK and Boox as a springboard for much wider application of Chapter 9 (if successful at FTTT), I would personally take a cautious approach for now, but YMMV.

[philgo]

Well, it wouldn't be a major thing unless it was the basis for IR35 tax loss insurance offered via your accountant, in which case YourCo would be a bang-to-rights MSC. However, the more your accountant does for you, beyond bookkeeping, the less good it looks w/r to the MSC legislation. Given the uncertainty surrounding its interpretation and the clear direction of travel w/r to CK and Boox as a springboard for much wider application of Chapter 9 (if successful at FTTT), I would personally take a cautious approach for now, but YMMV.

Sorry not familiar enough with this new MSC issues
In simple words what services should I refuse to get from an accountant to avoid impacts in regards of MSC ?

[jamesbrown]

Sorry not familiar enough with this new MSC issues
In simple words what services should I refuse to get from an accountant to avoid impacts in regards of MSC ?

Definitely do not take IR35 tax loss insurance via your accountant. Very bad w/r to the MSC legislation.

Personally, I wouldn't take IR35 advice either because: 1) it will often be a bit crap, and you may not have the expertise to judge what they say; and 2) it is unnecessary and could add to the overall picture of your accountant playing too big a role in the way your company is run w/r to the MSC legislation.

Again, the former is the real risk here, the latter is unproven (but educated) speculation from me.

If you have about seven lifetimes spare, you can read more here:

https://forums.contractoruk.com/hmrc...companies.html

[edison]

Indeed I missed the "i" icon. I believe you are right in terms of the service provided ie. feeding Free Agent on your behalf which is not critical.

Looking at the other thread here is my new list with status :

Qaccounting - still considered as very good, shame they do not have free agent
Paper rocket accounting - ex SDJ (by the way SDJ service looks awful now) but not clear whether service includes IR35 contract review in their package. Not good IMO.
Maslins - Good for basics but people are complaining about the lack of personal advice
Gorilla - Price up and service provided decreased

Need to investigate further
Dolan
Aardvark accounting
Clarity Taxation Limited
BI Accounting
Clever Accounts

I think you meant SJD (now rebranded Caroola) rather than SDJ. I switched from SJD to Paper Rocket a year ago and the difference is staggering, Paper Rocket are so much better and more efficient.

My accountant is always very speedy to reply to queries and VAT returns and other filings are always turned around quickly.

They are a very small firm but you get a personal service unlike the other sausage factory type accountancy firms.

[malvolio]

Sorry not familiar enough with this new MSC issues
In simple words what services should I refuse to get from an accountant to avoid impacts in regards of MSC ?

You're making the usual mistake of fixating on IR35. It is not actually your most important contractual concern. Even safely buttoned up inside an inside gig you are at risk of landing a bill equivalent to someone else's tax losses, for example.

There are companies out there that review contracts in toto rather than focussing on the vague swamp that is IR35. Markel Tax is one I would trust but there are others.

[philgo]

You're making the usual mistake of fixating on IR35. It is not actually your most important contractual concern. Even safely buttoned up inside an inside gig you are at risk of landing a bill equivalent to someone else's tax losses, for example.

There are companies out there that review contracts in toto rather than focussing on the vague swamp that is IR35. Markel Tax is one I would trust but there are others.

agreed, thanks, might asked them to review then

[philgo]

I think you meant SJD (now rebranded Caroola) rather than SDJ. I switched from SJD to Paper Rocket a year ago and the difference is staggering, Paper Rocket are so much better and more efficient.

My accountant is always very speedy to reply to queries and VAT returns and other filings are always turned around quickly.

They are a very small firm but you get a personal service unlike the other sausage factory type accountancy firms.

thanks for the insights. Which package do you have with them?

[courtg9000]

Just my own opinion.
Don't for the contractor big guns if you can help it is my advice.
There are lots of stories here and in other places of contractors by these firms, for example assistance being required outside the contractor "niche".
The Contractor specialists are not actually that good or specialist in my opinion. I found this out the hard way. Twice.
IR35 specialist advice is available from specialists as is insurance.
Get a good and local if possible accountant you can trust and build a relationship with. It will be better in the long run. IMHO only.
My last accountant, I got him to learn about IR35 and he did. We had an excellent working relationship right up until his retirement at Easter.

[northernladuk]

My take on the ones mentions, which still isn't too dissimilar to the original sticky.

I'm with Gorilla and get what people are saying but I'm still with them and happy enough. I did have to refuse to be switched accountants though so had the same one for a long time.
Paper Rocket - Can't go wrong here, Sarah runs a good ship and the two ladies are very capable. Runners up and best accounantant awards at the CUK awards.
BI - Michael is great guy, also appears to run a good ship, not heard anything bad about them and they've been around a long time.
Clarity Taxation - Claire and Craig are very well thought of on the forums and used to be very active here, sad to see them not around. They have a young family now so I expect Claire is super busy and Craig is full time tea boy now
Maslins - Met Chris a number of times and again very capable but has a dim opinion of me so clearly a smart fella. That said he's a nice guy to chat to and he didn buy me a pint at the awards. I had heard he'd expanded and not sure how that's affected the service but they'd still be on my list for a call.

The rest I don't know so would be unfair for me to comment but I'm pretty sure I'd be happy with any one of the above list so no need to be calling all insundry IMO. Courtg makes a point about a local bod and I'll temper his comment with my experience of a local guy being absolutely pants. 15 years using contractor specialists and apart from a hiccup by picking SJD they've done everything I need.

I saw a comment about IR35 reviews somewhere. Forget that. An accountant does your accounts. Period. They don't run your company and they shouldn't be going above and beyond will all the extras. Let the accoutants do what they do and then go to QDOS, B&C etc and let them do what they do. Now isn't the time to be letting your accoutants do other things for you IMO but that's a personal view.