Accountants- Am I expecting too much ?

**chicane** · 14 April 2007, 21:08

If you're not happy with the service, the natural thing to do would be to tell your accountant - have you considered doing so?

Personally I don't think you're being picky - I wouldn't be happy if I was being sent forms with no instructions on what to do - especially given the importance of getting these things right and consequences of not doing so.

I chose a local accountant instead of SJD et al and am amazed at how sharp they are - each form comes with a letter explaining exactly what action to take, and I go for a face-to-face meeting every 6 months or so to discuss how things are going. Having said this, at around £90-100pm, it's probably more expensive than most accountants, but (for me at least) well worth the peace of mind.

**malvolio** · 14 April 2007, 23:10

I am with SJD and I rarely get a form to fill in - VAT100 and a quarterly slip for the PAYE/NIC is about it (and only them becuase they require me to put a cheque in the envelope) and even then they tell what to write where.

Like I've said many times before, retained suppliers such as accountants are there to do work for you. I really wouldn't be very impressed if they expected me to do the routine paperwork, since that's what I pay them for.

**Bertie** · 15 April 2007, 09:34

It was actually the PAYE/NIC form that I just received with a letter asking for me to complete the form and send a cheque to the revenue based on my 2006/2007 earnings. As I haven't paid myself anything yet (had my first invoice paid beginning of april and I'm waiting for them to send me / set me up with PAYE schedule) I found this a bit confusing.

Well, its confusing for a new boy anyway...

**oraclesmith** · 15 April 2007, 10:39

Well I guess they don't know what you'd been earning in 2006/7 if you've just started contracting. I assume they've only been your accountant for a few weeks.

I use a local mid range accountancy firm who deal with mainly SME customers. When I started out, it was at the end of a tax year too. My accountant asked me to send them my P45 as part of the handover and they simply forwarded the details to the HMRC for their records.

Remember that if you were a director in the tax year then you'll need to do a self assessment for that year, even if you didn't earn anything through your company. You may be able to claim a small rebate of tax if you used to be a PAYE permie. I got over £600 back.

I agree they should be a bit more helpful though. Ask them what to do.

**Bertie** · 15 April 2007, 11:05

Yeah, only been with them for a few weeks.

Was a permie before that, but did send them my P45 on request, so they have those details.

I think its a combination of it all being new for me and the accountants not always taking that into account (!)

Must get easier I guess..

**cojak** · 15 April 2007, 16:24

Must get easier I guess..

Don't worry - it will...

Accountants- Am I expecting too much ?