Tips on how to choose the right accountant/tax adviser for you or your business
It is important to choose your accountant/tax adviser carefully. Here are a few tips to help you.
If you have not used an adviser before you should be aware that anyone can call themselves an accountant/tax adviser whether or not they are professionally qualified.
There are some non-qualified advisers who may have the experience to help you but qualified accountants/ tax advisers have completed relevant qualifications and will be regulated by their professional body.
Professionally qualified advisers will have achieved a qualification comprising knowledge, work experience and ethics. They keep their skills and knowledge up to date through continuing professional development and make an annual statement to their professional body that they have done so. They are also required to hold Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Some of the professional bodies who can help you find an accountant/tax adviser are:
In addition to pass the exam and gain the relevant qualification and training, before you engage in public practice in the UK , members of these bodies need to hold a practicing certificate (PC) and comply with , Professional Indemnity Insurance and Practice Assurance Regulations of these institutes. It is important to make sure that your accountant has qualified through one of the main accountancy bodies . These bodies hold their members to account in the event of bad practice, and so you’ll be afforded some protection if things go wrong.
What type of Accountants
Chartered Accountancy/Tax Qualifications
(Members of the above institutes often refer to themselves as ‘Chartered Accountants/Tax Advisers’)
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| Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales | Chartered Institute of Management Accountants | Association of Chartered Certified Accountants | Chartered Institute of Taxation |
Non Chartered Accountancy/Tax Qualifications
(Members of the above institutes often refer to themselves as ‘Qualified Accountants’ , Accounting /Tax Technicians )
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| Association of International Accountants | Association of Accounting Technicians | Association of Taxation Technicians | Institute of Financial Accountants |
Bookkeeping Qualifications
(Members of the above institutes often refer to themselves as ‘Certified/Registered Bookkeepers,’)
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| International Association of Book-keepers | Institute of Certified bookkeepers |
What to look for in an accountant/tax adviser
- For tax advice, check that the firm has the expertise to provide the type of advice you are looking for
- If you are in business, look for a firm of an appropriate size and with other business clients of a similar size to your business. They are likely to understand the issues and problems you will face.
- Do you want them to have experience of advising clients in the same trade sector as your business?
- Do they provide all the services you require? If you need audit, investment or insolvency advice make sure that the accountant is authorised to undertake that work.
- Do they have a good reputation?
- Will they be acceptable to third parties e.g. finance providers, shareholders?
- What qualifications do they have? Are those qualifications appropriate for your particular needs? Do they have professional indemnity insurance?
- Would you be able to contact or meet them as often as you wanted?
Making contact
- Invest time in finding the right adviser. Take a look at websites and make sure that a prospective adviser offers the services you need.
- Contact a few firms and arrange to meet with those on your shortlist. That way you should get a feel for how you would be able to work with them.
- If you are planning to start a business or if you have had communications with HMRC let you prospective adviser know.
- If you are starting a business tell them about the accounting records you keep. Can they suggest improvements?
- Check whether they offer the services you will need as your business develops.
- Find out who in the firm would be doing your work. It may not be the adviser you meet on your first appointment.
- Check in advance whether the first meeting is free of charge; specific advice may be chargeable.
Charges
- Establish the basis of fees and when they will be payable. Ask for an estimate.
- The adviser may want to see your accounting records if business accounts are to be prepared. There will be additional charges for services such as preparing VAT returns or running a payroll.
- How much would the adviser charge to help you compile a business plan? If you already have one ask them to comment on it.
- Remember that you may be able to minimise charges by doing some of the work yourself. Ask the adviser about this at the initial meeting.
- If you are thinking of buying a software package discuss the options with the adviser because the purchase of a compatible product could save the adviser’s chargeable time and your fees.
After appointing your adviser
- You should receive a letter setting out what your adviser will (and will not) do for you and the terms of the engagement
- Your adviser should keep in touch, not just contact you at the year-end. You should tell your accountant /tax adviser as soon as possible of changes in your business or personal circumstances
- After the annual accounts or tax return have been prepared your adviser will let you know what your future tax liabilities will be.
- You should also let your adviser know if you are considering retirement, selling or giving away an interest in your business
My Accountancy Team Limited – Expertise to help you Succeed ™
My Accountancy Team, a Chartered Management Accountancy firm we use HM Revenue & Customs approved software to:
- Complete your tax return
- Calculate your final tax liability
- File the return online
- Liaise with you on the amounts to be paid and when they are due.
In addition to this we can analyse your self-assessment tax return to see if any tax savings can be made and we can also review the form to see if there are any anomalies that need to be addressed before the latest tax calculation is submitted. This process helps to minimise your risk of a HMRC inquiry into your tax affairs.
We are registered for the following services with HMRC
- Self-Assessment online service for Agents.
- Corporation Tax online service for Agents.
- PAYE/CIS online service for Agents.
- VAT online services for Agents.
We use the HMRC Online Agent Services this can save you time and money. We can carry out many tasks online including registering our client’s business for tax purposes, submitting tax returns, forms and declarations, making payments, requesting refunds, and viewing our clients’ accounts.
Some forms and returns can now only be submitted online and others will soon follow, so it makes sense to make use of HMRC online services as soon as possible.
By giving you a fixed, competitive price and, provided that you can supply the information within a reasonable time scale, we can take the worry away when it comes to compliance and tax affairs, allowing you to concentrate on running your business or enjoying additional leisure time.
Source: CCAB