Reply to: Local vs. online accounting

[r0bly0ns]

Beef, Lamb or pork?

I'll get my coat.

Now there's a personal service that most don't offer.

Ouch.

Oh har de har har har

[Nixon Williams]

You've got to be vigilant. I think that SJD / NW clients will attract the attention of Hector because they know what they specialise in.

Having said that their advice and service seems to be pretty good according to all their clients on this site.

Consider a local or smaller firm who has extensive experience in the freelancer industry. Like (and here comes the spam) ME.

We also have very few enquiries, probably a handful each year, and all are handled by us on your behalf. Provided a client has not been silly there is nothing to fear from an enquiry anyway.

Alan

[simondolan]

I do like a scrap but this seems a bit playground. Thats what I get for spamming I suppose! Lesson learned.

Simon, I love you - and your dad - can we be friends?

My original point however, wasn't meant to be about tax enquiries as such - more about status enquiries and in the light of recent legislation (and proposed legislation post-Arctic) HMRC will be paying special attention to contractors - again. I hope its not the case (genuinely) because SJD are held to be one of the best - but i owuld have thought a simple way for one of Hector's Army to get some contractors would be to look on the database for people who use contractor specialist accountants.

:-)

If you are going to spam you might want to have a method of people contacting you....

I can see the point you are making, but a far simpler, and more productive way for the Revenue to round up contractors if they wany to is to sort them by SIC code direct from Co House.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

I do like a scrap but this seems a bit playground. Thats what I get for spamming I suppose! Lesson learned.

Simon, I love you - and your dad - can we be friends?

My original point however, wasn't meant to be about tax enquiries as such - more about status enquiries and in the light of recent legislation (and proposed legislation post-Arctic) HMRC will be paying special attention to contractors - again. I hope its not the case (genuinely) because SJD are held to be one of the best - but i owuld have thought a simple way for one of Hector's Army to get some contractors would be to look on the database for people who use contractor specialist accountants.

[simondolan]

I heard that Just1Morethen insulted Simon's dad, too.

Bring it on!

[TheFaQQer]

Lights out - Accountant FIGHT!

I heard that Just1Morethen insulted Simon's dad, too.

Bring it on!

[Moscow Mule]

Lights out - Accountant FIGHT!

[simondolan]

You've got to be vigilant. I think that SJD / NW clients will attract the attention of Hector because they know what they specialise in.

Having said that their advice and service seems to be pretty good according to all their clients on this site.

I can't speak for NW but we have far less than the average number of Revenue enquiries on our clients - 6 current out of a client base of just over 7000. The national average I believe is between 1 and 2%.

This would suggest that a good, specialist firm is a far safer bet than a one man band.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

You've got to be vigilant. I think that SJD / NW clients will attract the attention of Hector because they know what they specialise in.

Having said that their advice and service seems to be pretty good according to all their clients on this site.

Consider a local or smaller firm who has extensive experience in the freelancer industry. Like (and here comes the spam) ME.

[Bright Spark]

most of the work involved in running the accounts of the Ltd company are
standard processing of returns and forms, and don't really require you
to visit an accountant. Using an IT specialist accountant means they are
more likely to be up to date with changing rules that affect IT contractors.

[TheFaQQer]

Hi,
I've been contracting for about a year, and initially set up under an umbrella - basically to minimise the pain of the change from permiedom.
I have reconsidered this and now feel a ltd company might be best for me.

So, I'm looking for an accountant who can form the company for me, deal with tax returns and minimise the tax I pay.

What are the relative benefits of a local vs.an online accountanting firm? I'm supposing it might be nice to have a local accountant so I can go and speak to them in person....but then again there are larger online accounting firms who specialise in this who I can be reasonably sure will do a decent job.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Neil


PS - can anyone recommend a good online outfit, and also any in the North Leeds area.

The general opinion on the boards (this has been asked a number of times) is to question why you need to have someone that you can go in and see, and therefore go with someone who does it online.

I would go with whatever company seems the best to you - I found a local firm who deals with a whole range of clients, ranging from one-man-band up to multi-million pound companies. I have a guy there who I deal with all the time, and so get good service.

I looked at Danbro and SJD who were both recommended to me by colleagues at the time. If I was choosing between the two, it would have been SJD. If I was choosing now, it would probably be Nixon Williams - I don't need the advice and guidance that I have been getting from my current accountants, so if I was to move, it would be to someone recommended on here.

[TheFaQQer]

On both occasions have been more than happy to meat us.

Now there's a personal service that most don't offer.

Ouch.

[Moscow Mule]

We have only been in to see them twice in the last year, but on both occasions have been more than happy to meat us.

Beef, Lamb or pork?

I'll get my coat.

[r0bly0ns]

Upton Accountants are based in Wakefield, not that far from Leeds.

We've been with them for about 18 months now, they specialise in IT Contractors and really seem to know their stuff, but they are still quite a small practice so retain that personal touch.

We have only been in to see them twice in the last year, but on both occasions have been more than happy to meat us.

[Gonzo]

I have to agree, it is better to pick one that is familiar with IT contracting. I am sure there are local ones that are perfectly good but if most of their customers are local shops or the personal tax affairs of wealthy people then they may not be in a position to look after a contractor so well.

The accountant of one guy on the current site had told him that he didn't think that he could claim his travel. Since he was travelling from Scotland to London weekly this added up. After pursuing it the accountant did in the end agree.

That said, I would steer clear of the "previously and MSC provider now an accountant" brigade, they are very likely to be at the top of Hector's hit list.