Providing ID documents and proof of address information to accountant

[dagenheis]

I provided ID documents and proof of address for myself and spouse at the time of registration of ltd company.

Following the registration, I hired an accountant and supplied registration certificate and other registration documents.

Is it normal for an accountant to ask for copies of your passport and proof of address?. I am their client so I would have thought that there should not be any need of it especially when I have already given P45 (P46 for my spouse). Also he asked for the NI letter for my spouse as its her first job.

I told him that I am the employer so its my responsibility to make sure that any employee(my wife and myself) have the right set of ID documents and registered for NI. So he backed off but started saying that he would need copy of my ID and proof of address as he normally keeps that on file for the client.

I have been with this accountant for a month and this thing came up when I asked about his professional opinion about couple of things and I feel that he sort of reacted to my questions.

Now I am the only director of the company. Can someone please share their view if there is some professional (ACCA etc) or legal requirement that an accountant should ask for copies of this information - Have you provided such information in the past? Any references are much appreciated.

My accountant is a quite new; Also, I am bit prudent about storing copies of my ID documents at his premises.

[Sockpuppet]

Mine has never wanted to see mine.

[SueEllen]

My accountant is a quite new; Also, I am bit prudent about storing copies of my ID documents at his premises.

I've never provided any ID such as passport or proof of address to any of the accountants I've used. The only ID they have had on me is my NI number.

The only reason someone such as an accountant would want to see your personal ID is for money laundering reasons but as they shouldn't be touching any of your money, then there is no need for this.

In regards to storing your personal documents all accountants, solicitors and financial advisers even if they are not specifically registered have to comply with the Data Protection Act.

Personally I would check with the relevant accountancy body that your accountant claims to be in that they are actually registered with them if you haven't already done so as anyone can call themselves an accountant. When you ring them up I would also have a word with them about the extra information the accountant wants on you.

[CheeseSlice]

The only reason someone such as an accountant would want to see your personal ID is for money laundering reasons

Agree with this. My agreement docs from my accountant talk about the Money Laundering Regulations 2003. They asked for either a copy of my passport, drivers licence, letter from bank, or alternative. I think the regulations allow (or require) the accountant to rat on you to one of the government crime agencies (without informing you) if they suspect you're cooking the books to move money to and from your offshore tax haven bank account

[SueEllen]

I think the regulations allow (or require) the accountant to rat on you to one of the government crime agencies (without informing you) if they suspect you're cooking the books to move money to and from your offshore tax haven bank account

Your terms of service should state they will rat on you without telling you in that situation anyway regardless of whether you verify who you are or not with additional documentation.

[Greg@CapitalCity]

Money Laundering

Yep, required for Money Laundering. If your accountant does not hold proof of ID, and proof of address, they are not meeting the requirements of money laundering regulations. Its serious stuff, and accountants need to comply.

[Robot]

Your terms of service should state they will rat on you without telling you in that situation anyway regardless of whether you verify who you are or not with additional documentation.

and rat on you if make a genuine mistake on the VAT return and then the accountant reports this to you and the following quarter / year you don’t correct it.

There is no de minis limit when ratting on clients, with the money laundering regulations!