Reply to: Accountants that include Self Assesment

[Jeremiah@RHJAccountants]

We here at Smith Craven Chartered Accountants include the tax returns for directors and shareholders in the monthly fee of £60 + VAT per month no extra charges for self assessment.

As most accountancy firms find there will always be individuals that bring their info in at the last minute we still get the returns submitted on time

[psychocandy]

The 'free' tax return is just for one person, although we can do other family members if requested as a modest fee of £75+VAT (for a basic tax return).

We do get last minute tax return requests, despite several reminders.

We received 6 tax returns requests on the 31st January this year and managed to file 5 of them the same day. (The other one has not yet approved the return )

Alan

Seriously. 31st Jan. Talk about leaving till last minute.....

Good on you lot for getting them done mind. Bet you hate Jan 31st!

[Nixon Williams]

Cool. I'm with NW and I was going to check this.

Is the free tax return for just the one person or any shareholders as well? ;-)

Agree with you about the cut off date. Seems fair enough. Otherwise you're going to get people expecting it done with 7 days to go.

The 'free' tax return is just for one person, although we can do other family members if requested as a modest fee of £75+VAT (for a basic tax return).

We do get last minute tax return requests, despite several reminders.

We received 6 tax returns requests on the 31st January this year and managed to file 5 of them the same day. (The other one has not yet approved the return )

Alan

[psychocandy]

We do not charge for a tax return if the client submits their return to us by 30th September (we have extended this from July), so this gives the client 6 months to get their paperwork together.

Not sure that we are 'always' increasing our prices, we remain very competitive and existing clients have had the increase deferred.

There are two ways to increase the fee, we can either do smaller increases every year or 'catch up' every few years, not sure which is best but we only reflect the increased costs that we have in providing our service.

Alan

Cool. I'm with NW and I was going to check this.

Is the free tax return for just the one person or any shareholders as well? ;-)

Agree with you about the cut off date. Seems fair enough. Otherwise you're going to get people expecting it done with 7 days to go.

[Wanda Johnson]

Hi guys, this may be of use

Wanda here,

I was looking for some kinda really simple software so I could move away from spreadsheets and writing on notepads. I found this one called Mind The Profit, that records incomes and expenses alone. You can't do detailed accounting tasks on it though. It does look rather neat and lets you view it in graphs and charts as well. It works on Google cloud so you got security too. The last time I checked, it was free. Try Googling it

[russell]

I would be careful about relying on this, whilst it may buy you a few days grace, they will still fine you if it is not submitted within a reasonable time, after allowing for any attempt to contact HMRC for advice.

If the HMRC helpline is out of action for say two days, then that is the amount of extra time you can expect before a penalty is charged.

Alan

I will be doing my own tonight online, looks fairly straight forward.

[russell]

I really wonder if you are just taking the piss sometimes Russ

No this is a serious part of the forum, how could you suggest that :-p

[Nixon Williams]

On a plus note there will be no fine this year for late SA because of strikes

I would be careful about relying on this, whilst it may buy you a few days grace, they will still fine you if it is not submitted within a reasonable time, after allowing for any attempt to contact HMRC for advice.

If the HMRC helpline is out of action for say two days, then that is the amount of extra time you can expect before a penalty is charged.

Alan

[malvolio]

If I was organised I wouldn't need an accountant. I want a hassle free experience, I don't see why it suddenly costs £75 to do a self assessment after 30th September, it should be free, fair enough if it can't be done in time for the deadline because I asked you to do it 1-2 weeks before then I am happy to pay the fine to HMRC. The accountant also has all the information to complete the SA so not sure why I need to fill in a form every year.

My company is simple has flat rate VAT and just one client at a time, must be a few hours work a month. £100 is a complete rip off, that's why I am going with another much cheaper accountant that also includes SA.

Except you don't have an accountant, your company does. Minor detail, but quite germane to the argument about free services.

On a plus note there will be no fine this year for late SA because of strikes

And that's another example of why you need an accountant. What they said was that would apply only "if the delay is caused by a direct result of that day's action".

[Support Monkey]

Exactly, I don't think I should be! Im moving from Nixon Williams as they are always increasing prices and charge £75 for the SA.

Have to disagree on that one, I have been with NW for 5 years, never paid for SA yet and their still very reasonable as far as i am concerned in fact i can only remember them putting the price up twice in that time

[jmo21]

If I was organised I wouldn't need an accountant. I want a hassle free experience, I don't see why it suddenly costs £75 to do a self assessment after 30th September, it should be free, fair enough if it can't be done in time for the deadline because I asked you to do it 1-2 weeks before then I am happy to pay the fine to HMRC. The accountant also has all the information to complete the SA so not sure why I need to fill in a form every year.

My company is simple has flat rate VAT and just one client at a time, must be a few hours work a month. £100 is a complete rip off, that's why I am going with another much cheaper accountant that also includes SA.

On a plus note there will be no fine this year for late SA because of strikes

I really wonder if you are just taking the piss sometimes Russ

[russell]

What Alan Said.

If you're too unorganised to get a few documents together and send them off within 6 months then why shouldn't you be charged?!

If I was organised I wouldn't need an accountant. I want a hassle free experience, I don't see why it suddenly costs £75 to do a self assessment after 30th September, it should be free, fair enough if it can't be done in time for the deadline because I asked you to do it 1-2 weeks before then I am happy to pay the fine to HMRC. The accountant also has all the information to complete the SA so not sure why I need to fill in a form every year.

My company is simple has flat rate VAT and just one client at a time, must be a few hours work a month. £100 is a complete rip off, that's why I am going with another much cheaper accountant that also includes SA.

On a plus note there will be no fine this year for late SA because of strikes

[MrRobin]

We do not charge for a tax return if the client submits their return to us by 30th September (we have extended this from July), so this gives the client 6 months to get their paperwork together.

Not sure that we are 'always' increasing our prices, we remain very competitive and existing clients have had the increase deferred.

There are two ways to increase the fee, we can either do smaller increases every year or 'catch up' every few years, not sure which is best but we only reflect the increased costs that we have in providing our service.

Alan

What Alan Said.

If you're too unorganised to get a few documents together and send them off within 6 months then why shouldn't you be charged?!

[northernladuk]

I also hate paying extra for things that are effectively essential to a contractor!

Self assesment isn't essential to a contractor.

[yorkshireman]

Hi,

Looking for an accountant that include completing self-assessment, I pay mine £100 a month and they still as for a few for this.

I also hate paying extra for things that are effectively essential to a contractor!

I joined Intouch because they include self-assessment for me and my partner and payroll for us both in the fixed fee. Some I looked at like Crunch who have a low fixed fee wanted to charge for both our self-assessments and for my partners payroll.

Intouch have always given me great service and the people who answer the phone are accountants not message takers. I would definitely check them out if I were you Russell.