Recommendations for accounts please

[Clare@InTouch]

I'd be careful of any recommendations, after all Darren Upton had many people recommending his services on this forum and he went on the steal money from many of his clients.

I'm not sure that one accountant being a thief is any logic to never use a recommended firm again. I've used builders, carpenters, solicitors, plumbers and mechanics that have been recommended by friends and none of them have stolen from me

It was good lesson for company owners though - don't let your accountant control your bank account, don't send tax payments to them, and make sure you understand what is due, when it's due, and check it yourself via HMRC Online. It's like any type of theft - don't make it easy for them.

[Sausage Surprise]

Just switched to Crunch....real time figures. Loving it and much cheapness...

[Jeremiah@RHJAccountants]

I'm not sure that one accountant being a thief is any logic to never use a recommended firm again. I've used builders, carpenters, solicitors, plumbers and mechanics that have been recommended by friends and none of them have stolen from me

It was good lesson for company owners though - don't let your accountant control your bank account, don't send tax payments to them, and make sure you understand what is due, when it's due, and check it yourself via HMRC Online. It's like any type of theft - don't make it easy for them.

I agree wholeheartedly with this.

What Darren Upton did was disgusting, however i do not believe this should tarnish all other good accountants who offer a brilliant service.

As there are bad people in all trades, although there are more good than bad.

[northernladuk]

Didn't Darren technically steal from HMRC not his clients? The contractors paid him the corp tax they should have. He just didn't declare it and pass it on to HMRC?

[GlenW]

Didn't Darren technically steal from HMRC not his clients? The contractors paid him the corp tax they should have. He just didn't declare it and pass it on to HMRC?

His clients still owe the money to HMRC, so he stole from them.

[northernladuk]

His clients still owe the money to HMRC, so he stole from them.

Ohhh I didn't know that! I thought it was for HMRC to get the monies from Darren.

[Jeremiah@RHJAccountants]

Didn't Darren technically steal from HMRC not his clients? The contractors paid him the corp tax they should have. He just didn't declare it and pass it on to HMRC?

Your are correct it what happened although the clients thought they were paying HMRC after being given the account details to pay from Darren Upton with it stating this is the HMRC account for corporation tax!

So the clients still owe HMRC!

No client should pay there accountant any taxes due when you can pay it direct to HMRC via links on the website and also you will also receive the payment payslip for corporation tax through the post from HMRC.

[GlenW]

Ohhh I didn't know that! I thought it was for HMRC to get the monies from Darren.

If you run a business it is your responsibility to make sure your liabilities are settled. If you get conned by someone, and lose the money you assumed was going to settle your liability, that liability still exists. Of course you get some satisfaction when the con man goes to prison.

[ZARDOZ]

It was good lesson for company owners though - don't let your accountant control your bank account, don't send tax payments to them, and make sure you understand what is due, when it's due, and check it yourself via HMRC Online. It's like any type of theft - don't make it easy for them.

That would not have helped much as he defrauded some of his clients without touching their bank accounts or clients sending any money to his. Money was extracted in some cases from HMRC after liabilities were paid and diverted to his account via bogus refunds, yet the clients had to pay it back to HMRC.

All centered around him having the ability to act 'on behalf of his client' as an agent. HMRC consider that once you have signed over this power it's your fault. The advise based on that would be don't let an accountant act as your agent for Corportion Tax. But then again 99% of accountants probably do.

I'm sure you are very honest. But the opportunity is still there for some. Don't think this type of fraud was possible when it was all paper. HMRC should inform the LTD by email when any changes are made IMHO would help close the loophole.

[Clare@InTouch]

That would not have helped much as he defrauded some of his clients without touching their bank accounts or clients sending any money to his. Money was extracted in some cases from HMRC after liabilities were paid and diverted to his account via bogus refunds, yet the clients had to pay it back to HMRC.

All centered around him having the ability to act 'on behalf of his client' as an agent. HMRC consider that once you have signed over this power it's your fault. The advise based on that would be don't let an accountant act as your agent for Corportion Tax. But then again 99% of accountants probably do.

I'm sure you are very honest. But the opportunity is still there for some. Don't think this type of fraud was possible when it was all paper.

Exactly, which is why having access to HMRC Online and checking things yourself can either prevent it happening, or at least alert you that something is wrong. You'd see a refund, or you'd see tax still outstanding that you'd paid.

You're not signing over power when an accountant acts for you, you're allowing them to view your records, talk to HMRC and file things on your behalf. That doesn't mean the ultimate responsibility moves away from you though, so you should still know what's going on. CT is actually the easiest one to keep track of, and the easiest to understand as a layman. Try viewing our self assessment statements and it can be nightmare!