Accountants

[damo111176]

I have looked at many different accountants but still canot decide. Can people please provide names of accountants they've used that do a deal to do everything for them ie the bookkeeping etc for a fixed fee every month. Recommendations appreciated.

SJD Accountacny look good but charge well over £100 a month. I have also spoken to Accountant.IT and they seem good but the tools slightly more archaic for £92 a month. I am steering clear of Giant unless anyone cacn convince me to stay with them.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Regards

Damo

[BOBJ]

SJD Accountacny look good but charge well over £100 a month.

I'm not paying that and I'm with them - only started with them a few months ago as well...dunno where you got your info or if your requirements are more complicated than a simple Ltd Co?

[Damo1176]

SJD Accountancy according to the info I have charge £85 + VAT, apologies slighlty off the mark so thats £99.87 a month. The bits thats expensive is the company setup which they charge just under £150 for although admitteldy it's same day service and they setup VAT, PAYE and company bank account. Just looking for recommendations and good deals. Quat accounting do it from £66 + VAT a month.

Thank folks

[malvolio]

So exactly how many times are you going to spend £150 setting up a complete company package? How much time would it take you, charged at your usual rate? What is £150 as a percentage of your gross earnings for the next three years?

Do not confuse price and value - they are different things.

[jh0711]

given the whole recent issues with ltd co's, msc etc etc

the best option unless you genuienly want to be in business - I mean gneuinely like have a website do you own marketing, actually act like a business

And not just set up a ltd co, pay director fees and take the rest as dividends in blatent attempt to avoid tax

then go brolly - the vast majority of agency contracts are inside IR35 - althouh a lot have been written to look outside IR35 however when the actual relationship between end client and contractor is reviewed it is blatantly inside IR35.

anyone setting up LTd co's to try to screw gordo out of some tax right now may as well have a big flag waved above their head saying " come and investigate me"

probably

[malvolio]

Wrong on almost every count, but there's probably no point in arguing.

As regards

And not just set up a ltd co, pay director fees and take the rest as dividends in blatent attempt to avoid tax

that is not only insulting rubbish but if you could tell me how to get work as a self-employed freelance without a limited company, given that S134C makes it virtually impossible to do so?

And that's "blatant", BTW...

[jh0711]

maybe you could enlighten us on S134C?

thanks

[jh0711]

S134C means you cannot work through an agency as a sole trader. In your case now, going direct, that is not an issue, but your next job will be problematic.

found some earlier info.

not sure what going sole trader has to do with the discussion

I may be missing something vital though.

It seems what you are saying is either be paid directly be agency or set up ltd co?

with no brolly (sorry proffesional employment services provider) option?

is this true? do i need to quickly review my situation?

[malvolio]

F*** me, these are absolute basics....

S134C is the clause in the Finance Act that made the agency liable for tax debts if a contractor didn't pay them. If you interpose a limited company - yours or an umbrella - the potential debt is theirs, so protecting the agency. Hence, you cannot work as a sole-trader within the current IT contract market and a few others like some engineering disciplines. That is why 99% of contractors are incorporated or work through umbrellas.

It's not a tax dodge (even if it were, it is merely tax avoidance which is still - despite Gay Gordon's beliefs - a perfectly legal exercise), it is the only way to stay in work.

[jh0711]

I knew that if you are a sole trader and do not pay your tax the agency is liable - it just seemed from your comments that the only choice was a Ltd co - apologies

So safe to assume for now brollies are ok still? and possible a better option if you have just come out of an MSC as HMRC will be targetting those people?

Thanks