SJD accountancy?

[Pacciae]

Try <removed>

Free Company set up and Nigel gives great personal service

I use <removed> and have no problems so far.As part of there service they advise me on my contracts regarding IR35 so better to use someone like this than spend more money on contract advise from the likes of Qudos and Bauer Cotterill.

[Pondlife]

so better to use someone like this than spend more money on contract advise from the likes of Qudos and Bauer Cotterill.

Do you really think this is good advise based on your posting history?

http://forums.contractoruk.com/searc...earchid=874798

[mudskipper]

Thanks - I'll take a look at them too. Although I have to say a website with a spelling mistake on the homepage does put me off a bit! Maybe that's just me...

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

This IR35Accountant seems to be getting a lot of recommendations from people with low post counts. And blatant spamming was removed yesterday. I wonder...

[mudskipper]

Eeek - I'm too naive for this game!

[williamdavis]

Thanks - I'll take a look at them too. Although I have to say a website with a spelling mistake on the homepage does put me off a bit! Maybe that's just me...

My advice would be to give the companies a call, I use the company you first thought of using.

I use them because I get an accountant and not some stud in a call centre, I have had an occasion to meet with my accountant, not often but nice to know I can, he always gets back to me and answers my questions and he's never **cked up on my taxes. Can't really ask anymore for £95 a month. Sure there are cheaper ones out and ones far more expensive. My mate used to use first contact until I found out he was paying £250 a month. Shocking!!!

[Hex]

Try <removed>

Free Company set up and Nigel gives great personal service

But what if you're just after an accountant?

[sweetandsour]

Just about ready to take the plunge and set up my limited company. So I'm looking at accountants. Very impressed by SJD accountancy's website, but they're a bit dearer than a lot of other accountants. Has anyone used them? Does their service match their website?

Thanks
k2p2

Just make sure that you understand what an accountant will do for you, and what they won't do for you, before you sign up.

With some of these contractor specialist accountants it can seem like you are being processed by a machine. The truth is that if you a contractor and set up as a Limited company paying low PAYE and the rest as dividends you are already very tax efficient.

If you claim all legitimate expenses then there is not a lot more that I can think of that you can do.


A friend of mine who used to run a pub told me about a conversation that he had with his accountant that ran something like this:

Accountant : You buy CDs don't you?
Friend : Yes
Accountant : You play those CDs in the pub sometimes don't you?
Friend : Yes
Accountant : Then they can go down as expenses.

Accountant : Your missus has her hair done from time to time doesn't she?
Friend : Yes
Accountant : She has to look good when she is talking to patrons doesn't she?
Friend : Yes
Accountant : Then those costs can go down as expenses.

I don't think that most of us need that level of personal service and you won't get it with one of the big contractor specialists.

[Maslins]

Accountant : Your missus has her hair done from time to time doesn't she?
Friend : Yes
Accountant : She has to look good when she is talking to patrons doesn't she?
Friend : Yes
Accountant : Then those costs can go down as expenses.

Things like that are really pushing your luck, and for the amount of tax saved basically aren't worth it IMO.

If HMRC find out about things like that, they'll have a field day, and start looking for loads of other costs which don't meet the "wholly and exclusively" test (I'm sure she'd have a haircut even if she didn't run a pub).

[mcskiver]

I think you'll find that SJD cost rather more than £95 per month, unless i'm being stung.

Also, I was told that meeting them in person cost something like £150 per hour after my first visit...which I wasn't impressed by. I also increasingly find that I hear from people at SJD other than my accountant, which is confusing. One person dealing with my year end paperwork, another with my VAT etc.

One final point - my personal contact generally only replies to emails once per day - just before 5pm. They also close at 5, so if you need further explanation they're usually shut by the time you realise it and try to call them...

Minor points but it seems only fair to give out all the info. The problem is that your monthly costs are covering your year end stuff, so it's not easy to just give them a try, because once you're a few months in you effectively lose cash if you move to another accountant.