Reply to: Anybody else finding Gorilla accountants getting a bit sluggish?

[jamesbrown]

You are indeed, but it's like having IPSE insurance, you can be innocent, but having someone say "this person is innocent because..." helps the process go smoother.

If you're being investigated by HMRC (and it may not be obvious that you are, but you are), you don't really want your accountant to lead it TBH. If you have IPSE membership, better to involve them straight away. Remember, good accountants have a good general understanding of accounting, but they are not specialists w/r to tax legislation (for example), even if they know a thing or two.

[PerfectStorm]

The origin of the screw up won't make any difference to HMRC or CH or anyone else that matters and, ultimately, it's your screw up in all scenarios because you are responsible for all statutory submissions, so either get an accountant you trust or DIY (not aimed at you personally, just anyone reading).

You are indeed, but it's like having IPSE insurance, you can be innocent, but having someone say "this person is innocent because..." helps the process go smoother.

[jamesbrown]

I'm at the point now where I feel I could do it myself (I'm a contractor - it's our job to learn things on the job!) but the price per year is fairly marginal and it does provide a certain amount of "but my accountant said" if something ever gets queried, which may be helpful.

The origin of the screw up won't make any difference to HMRC or CH or anyone else that matters and, ultimately, it's your screw up in all scenarios because you are responsible for all statutory submissions, so either get an accountant you trust or DIY (not aimed at you personally, just anyone reading).

[PerfectStorm]

I'm at the point now where I feel I could do it myself (I'm a contractor - it's our job to learn things on the job!) but the price per year is fairly marginal and it does provide a certain amount of "but my accountant said" if something ever gets queried, which may be helpful.

[Bluenose]

Started a few years ago with Gorilla and it was great after having been with SJD for many years, but it feels the quality is going down a bit
Waiting now for almost 4 months for my company accounts, have to chase them constantly and they keep coming up with excuses.

They are probably overwhelmed with all the SJD customers jumping ship.

[Maslins]

Are Maslins FreeAgent friendly?

We've worked almost exclusively with it since August 2009!

[northernladuk]

Literally logged in to post about the same problem! Back and forth emails with zero answers to half the questions, accountant going on leave with no notice, looong periods for preparing anything and a few late/forgotten vat returns. Are Maslins FreeAgent friendly?

Have you checked their website?

[Mal]

Literally logged in to post about the same problem! Back and forth emails with zero answers to half the questions, accountant going on leave with no notice, looong periods for preparing anything and a few late/forgotten vat returns. Are Maslins FreeAgent friendly?

[SunglassesRon]

Don't want to be rude but if you've been daft enough to stay with SJD this long are you sure you are up to the job of doing your own accounts?

There are a very small handfull of people doing their own accounts on here. Most of them have had to come and ask questions but seem to do OK. That said we've had more than enough people doing their own accounts asking some very daft questions as well so I'd not recommend it unless you are 100% confident, which you aren't. You can work out the stuff you know you need to learn. It's the stuff you don't know that you don't know which will catch you out.

IMO for 1500 quid (claimable) a year its just not worth it.

That's if this isn't all inneresting of course.

Wow!

[Fred Bloggs]

Nice one, I use FreeAgent via SJD right now and really like it so that would make most sense for me. Thanks for the advice.

You're welcome. You're well set up then with Freeagent. But don't take that as a recommendation from me that you should definitely DIY. If you keep things extremely simple, DIY isn't difficult. But it's not a route everyone should take. A middle path is to mostly DIY and engage a local professional for the more complicated stuff.

[northernladuk]

Thanks for the suggestions for online accountants, much appreciated. The more I've researched the more I'm thinking I may go down the route of doing my own accounts using something like Quickbooks. I can use Quickbooks to connect to my company account in terms of banking. I can also use it for VAT. Which leaves only, yearly confirmation statement, corporation tax return and self-assessment return which can all be done pretty straight forwardly via HMRC online. Anyone any experience of doing similar?

Don't want to be rude but if you've been daft enough to stay with SJD this long are you sure you are up to the job of doing your own accounts?

There are a very small handfull of people doing their own accounts on here. Most of them have had to come and ask questions but seem to do OK. That said we've had more than enough people doing their own accounts asking some very daft questions as well so I'd not recommend it unless you are 100% confident, which you aren't. You can work out the stuff you know you need to learn. It's the stuff you don't know that you don't know which will catch you out.

IMO for 1500 quid (claimable) a year its just not worth it.

That's if this isn't all inneresting of course.

[SunglassesRon]

Yes I have done DIY. I recommend Freeagent though. I have used Freeagent and Quickfile. They are both excellent for a contractor company.

Freeagent can be had for no charge with a Nat West group account. Quickfile is essentially without charge unless you pay for extra services.

Nice one, I use FreeAgent via SJD right now and really like it so that would make most sense for me. Thanks for the advice.

[Fred Bloggs]

Thanks for the suggestions for online accountants, much appreciated. The more I've researched the more I'm thinking I may go down the route of doing my own accounts using something like Quickbooks. I can use Quickbooks to connect to my company account in terms of banking. I can also use it for VAT. Which leaves only, yearly confirmation statement, corporation tax return and self-assessment return which can all be done pretty straight forwardly via HMRC online. Anyone any experience of doing similar?

Yes I have done DIY. I recommend Freeagent though. I have used Freeagent and Quickfile. They are both excellent for a contractor company.

Freeagent can be had for no charge with a Nat West group account. Quickfile is essentially without charge unless you pay for extra services.

[SunglassesRon]

Thanks for the suggestions for online accountants, much appreciated. The more I've researched the more I'm thinking I may go down the route of doing my own accounts using something like Quickbooks. I can use Quickbooks to connect to my company account in terms of banking. I can also use it for VAT. Which leaves only, yearly confirmation statement, corporation tax return and self-assessment return which can all be done pretty straight forwardly via HMRC online. Anyone any experience of doing similar?

[PerfectStorm]

Sounds like they have been acquired by Optionis!

We joke, but... I was once warned that they were in a similar ownership scenario. Not sure how much of that was true.