Emergency self-assessment filing help may be required!
Discussion
I use a local accountant who is a Quickbooks expert, as I use this software to do my book keeping as a sole trader. He completed my self-assessment last August and WAS supposed to file it for me - but, er, didn't. I twigged this was the case I was supposed to receive a rebate from HMRC, but didn't. I contacted HMRC to see if they had received my SA return, but no, they hadn't.
So...contacted the accountant who was a bit suprised that it had not got in. However, I have been nudging him to sort this out for 2 weeks and he still hasn't done anything, and he is poor at returning my calls. Now OK, this will be a busy time of year for an accountant, but it should have been filed last summer.
I logged on the Goverment Gateway and tried to input his figure into it, but the tax calculation seems completely different, so I am at a crossroads. I will give him another 24 hours grace to file, but....
...if my accountant fails me, is there anyone here who would be willing/able to check my return and the tax calculation, and then file it on online for me - for a fee of course? I think I may not use this guy last year, which is a shame as he has set up his own business a couple of years ago, been OK so far, and I like to support him. However, doing something 5 months late - or not doing as the case is - is not really acceptable.
So...contacted the accountant who was a bit suprised that it had not got in. However, I have been nudging him to sort this out for 2 weeks and he still hasn't done anything, and he is poor at returning my calls. Now OK, this will be a busy time of year for an accountant, but it should have been filed last summer.
I logged on the Goverment Gateway and tried to input his figure into it, but the tax calculation seems completely different, so I am at a crossroads. I will give him another 24 hours grace to file, but....
...if my accountant fails me, is there anyone here who would be willing/able to check my return and the tax calculation, and then file it on online for me - for a fee of course? I think I may not use this guy last year, which is a shame as he has set up his own business a couple of years ago, been OK so far, and I like to support him. However, doing something 5 months late - or not doing as the case is - is not really acceptable.
Well, if I can trust the accountant's numbers, I should be due about £2K back from from 2006-2007, but I will owe more than that for 200-2008, so it is the difference that I owe them - so on balance, I am not owed a refund. I take it that means I would still be liable for the £100 penalty?
Correct.
If there is any sort of amount unpaid at 31 January you will be charged the £100.
If you know how much you have to pay, pay it NOW and clear the liability before 31 January. That means the debt is cleared and the £100 will not be levied.
If you don't know the exact amount to pay, which would be a pretty poor showing from the accountant, pay a round sum figure HIGHER than you think it should be. This will still clear the debt and remove the penalty charge.
The Revenue will refund you any overpayments and give you some interest as well.
If there is any sort of amount unpaid at 31 January you will be charged the £100.
If you know how much you have to pay, pay it NOW and clear the liability before 31 January. That means the debt is cleared and the £100 will not be levied.
If you don't know the exact amount to pay, which would be a pretty poor showing from the accountant, pay a round sum figure HIGHER than you think it should be. This will still clear the debt and remove the penalty charge.
The Revenue will refund you any overpayments and give you some interest as well.
TUS 373 said:
Thanks Eric. Yes, already paid the amount owing (Sunday last) to clear the debt, based on the figures provided by the accountant. So that means, late filing, no fee? Hmmm. Well, I suppose as long as HMRC get their money!
As they may not get the return before 31 January, they won't know initially whether you have cleared all your liability or not - so they may go ahead and raise the penalty anyway. If they do, submit a written appeal on the the grounds that the liability had already been cleared. They will then cancel the penalty.The main thing is that you do not have to pay it.
Agree with Eric regarding paying tax now to avoid the penalty (albeit this means that you do need to get a return in to HMRC by 31st, even if a paper copy).
I read that HMRC will be making £479m out of late filing penalties this year!
Just to add my tuppence worth regarding the service you have recieved, on the basis that you paid your Accountant a fee to do this surely you should not be having to worry about this in the last week of January? And surely he should have systems in place to ensure all returns are submitted on time? Don't show him too much loyalty as what would your customers think if you didn't return their phone calls? Rant over.
I read that HMRC will be making £479m out of late filing penalties this year!
Just to add my tuppence worth regarding the service you have recieved, on the basis that you paid your Accountant a fee to do this surely you should not be having to worry about this in the last week of January? And surely he should have systems in place to ensure all returns are submitted on time? Don't show him too much loyalty as what would your customers think if you didn't return their phone calls? Rant over.
Thanks everyone, particularly Eric Mc of course!
Accountant has been in touch and said that he has now submitted the return for me, hurrah!!
Yes, it has been a disappointing service from him this time around. I suspect that while he knows his accountancy inside out, he has not grasped the concept about how to run his business. I saw him around May/June to do my tax calculation, then had to chase him to get it done. He was then supposed to have submitted it last August, and I should be sitting with a £2k rebate in my account now. The only saving grace is that he has not invoiced me yet, so I have obviously not had to pay him! I think I will need to have words with him next time around and push the point, if wishes to retain my business.
Accountant has been in touch and said that he has now submitted the return for me, hurrah!!
Yes, it has been a disappointing service from him this time around. I suspect that while he knows his accountancy inside out, he has not grasped the concept about how to run his business. I saw him around May/June to do my tax calculation, then had to chase him to get it done. He was then supposed to have submitted it last August, and I should be sitting with a £2k rebate in my account now. The only saving grace is that he has not invoiced me yet, so I have obviously not had to pay him! I think I will need to have words with him next time around and push the point, if wishes to retain my business.
TUS 373 said:
Thanks everyone, particularly Eric Mc of course!
Accountant has been in touch and said that he has now submitted the return for me, hurrah!!
Yes, it has been a disappointing service from him this time around. I suspect that while he knows his accountancy inside out, he has not grasped the concept about how to run his business. I saw him around May/June to do my tax calculation, then had to chase him to get it done. He was then supposed to have submitted it last August, and I should be sitting with a £2k rebate in my account now. The only saving grace is that he has not invoiced me yet, so I have obviously not had to pay him! I think I will need to have words with him next time around and push the point, if wishes to retain my business.
or just employ Eric to do it...Accountant has been in touch and said that he has now submitted the return for me, hurrah!!
Yes, it has been a disappointing service from him this time around. I suspect that while he knows his accountancy inside out, he has not grasped the concept about how to run his business. I saw him around May/June to do my tax calculation, then had to chase him to get it done. He was then supposed to have submitted it last August, and I should be sitting with a £2k rebate in my account now. The only saving grace is that he has not invoiced me yet, so I have obviously not had to pay him! I think I will need to have words with him next time around and push the point, if wishes to retain my business.
None of us are perfect. Sometimes the workload and impending deadlines means that other work gets pushed to the back a bit. Our job these days does seem to involve a lot of rushing about trying to meet government imposed deadlines of various sorts. There are so many these days - some of them at fixed points in the year - I can think of at least four to do with PAYE alone - and some related to the financial year ends of individual clients.
Keeping the client informed and constant communication with the client is the best policy. Always let them know where you are with their work and if there are any problems with getting the work completed.
Keeping the client informed and constant communication with the client is the best policy. Always let them know where you are with their work and if there are any problems with getting the work completed.
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