Accountant recommendation threads inc local requests

[knutefla]

I can confirm what SamuelP says. Initially I went with SJD despite the high price because I wanted a high quality service. I was quite disappointed by the service I got except the company formation which was great. So I decided to switch to an accountancy which use FreeAgent as their primary tool and I went for Dynamo Accounts. I really don't regret my choice. Darren is always doing his best to help and responding quickly to my emails especially if there is a problem to fix.

[Fred Bloggs]

1st OnLine - Cheap but good FreeAgent accountant.

After having many years of poor service from one of the large contractor specialist charging a lot of money and leaving me to do all he hard work, double checking everything, pointing out errors, incorrect tax returns that would have cost me around GBP 10k extra tax etc.......

I swapped to a smaller FreeAgent specialist called 1st Online. I went to them because they were the cheapest FreeAgent accountant I could find. And you know what? They have been fantastic. And all for GBP 49 a month. Don't be put off by the price.

Highly recommended.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

After having many years of poor service from one of the large contractor specialist charging a lot of money and leaving me to do all he hard work, double checking everything, pointing out errors, incorrect tax returns that would have cost me around GBP 10k extra tax etc.......

I swapped to a smaller FreeAgent specialist called 1st Online. I went to them because they were the cheapest FreeAgent accountant I could find. And you know what? They have been fantastic. And all for GBP 49 a month. Don't be put off by the price.

Highly recommended.

That's impressive. For £49 there's not much margin so I'd have expected a sausage factory. So, fair play to them.

How long have you been with them? Have you experienced the whole gamut of services?

[northernladuk]

That's impressive. For £49 there's not much margin so I'd have expected a sausage factory. So, fair play to them.

How long have you been with them? Have you experienced the whole gamut of services?

That's their third tier offering as well. They do one for 20 quid a month.

[Fred Bloggs]

That's impressive. For £49 there's not much margin so I'd have expected a sausage factory. So, fair play to them.

How long have you been with them? Have you experienced the whole gamut of services?

Sorry, didn't notice this.

I have used 1st Online for the entire business cycle, from setting a new Ltd Co up to closing it down again. At all times they have been very quick and accurate at answering questions and everything they do happens immediately. For example, I wanted to start a new Ltd Co and emailed them at 9.00am saying so. By 3.30pm I had the company up and running and no extra cost to me either. When I told them I wanted to close the company down it took just a couple of days and I was sent all the paperwork, accounts, tax returns etc.... to do so. And everything in between was just as good. I think they can offer this service at a low price mainly because Freeagent does all the heavy lifting for them. For GBP 49 a month I had to do my own VAT returns but, again FA presents you with the figures and it takes 10 minutes to do the VAT return on line. Very simple. I guess FA will soon do the submission directly for you.

Contrast that with my previous big name accountancy specialist who charged me 2x as much per month without FreeAgent and when I told them in March I was closing the business down it took until April the FOLLOWING year for it to happen.

[Michael at BI Accountancy]

For GBP 49 a month I had to do my own VAT returns but, again FA presents you with the figures and it takes 10 minutes to do the VAT return on line. Very simple. I guess FA will soon do the submission directly for you.

FreeAgent already allow's you to submit the VAT returns directly, or are you referring to accounts?

Got to agree with Alan on the pricing, when you factor in the cost of the FreeAgent subscription along with overheads and staff costs then there is very little margin remaining.

[Fred Bloggs]

FreeAgent already allow's you to submit the VAT returns directly, or are you referring to accounts?

Got to agree with Alan on the pricing, when you factor in the cost of the FreeAgent subscription along with overheads and staff costs then there is very little margin remaining.

Thanks, obviously a limitation on my ability to use FA for VAT returns!

[Michael at BI Accountancy]

Thanks, obviously a limitation on my ability to use FA for VAT returns!

Rather straightforward, when you go to Taxes - VAT select the period in question.

You will see the VAT return summary/preview, to the right hand side of this there should be an option to "File online with HMRC". You need to ensure your bank is reconciled up to the end of the quarter.

[EinsteinTax]

Rather straightforward, when you go to Taxes - VAT select the period in question.

You will see the VAT return summary/preview, to the right hand side of this there should be an option to "File online with HMRC". You need to ensure your bank is reconciled up to the end of the quarter.

It depends on the access levels that have been set up in FreeAgent. Filing VAT returns requires the top level of access (8 - Full Access).

Full Access also allows you to file self assessment tax returns and to post journals, so accountants sometimes prefer not to give clients full access.

[Fred Bloggs]

Rather straightforward, when you go to Taxes - VAT select the period in question.

You will see the VAT return summary/preview, to the right hand side of this there should be an option to "File online with HMRC". You need to ensure your bank is reconciled up to the end of the quarter.

Cheers for that. I am rather a numpty with things like that. But to be honest, manually filing takes 10 minutes every three months, so I'm not complaining. Nice to know though.