[dai]

I have paid accountants for the last 7 years, and they have saved me a grand total of sod all. I paid my accountants bill today 335 quid, never again, I had worked out everything down to the last penny, even my tax liability. When I tried to file on line I couldn't because they[ the accountant] hold my file on line account.
With the deadline looming, I hadn't got time to sort it out, but I sure as hell will by next time.
I have paid them all that money just to enter my figures, a no more than 20 min job at most, never again.

[dai]

Well judging by the response the same as me, sod all.
I have read on here so many times people saying that their accountant saves them more than his fee, surely this can only happen if all expenses were not claimed to begin with.

[Craig 72]

My last accountant stitched me up to the tune of thousands when I had a limited company.Very naive looking back but I'll do my own books from now on.

[ftp]

£95 I pay - I can live with that. After all,all I do is print off George and it's almost done.

[Pole 2 Pole]

Agree with ya Dai. gave them everything in tip top shape......printed it all off from George. Receipts all in order...bla bla bla.........I asked if they could lower the £300 fee that they charged last year(first year of using them) and they mumbled a kinda mumbly "maybe". Did they charge me less? Bowlarks did they  : yep..and nothing "inventive" on their behalf.........pretty much all they claimed for me was what i gave them. Result........£3,500 by the end of Jan. ped off,just like your good self Dai. I'm only hoping that next year will be better as i've been mugged this year.

[Sure Cleaning]

Our type of business is pretty straight forward to work out your own accounts if you are a sole trader with no employees.

So the figures you give accountant will be basically all he/she can declare.

My business is a partnership with the wife and I give our accountant all figures and yes he basically comes up with the same as me, however, I prefer to use an accountant to ensure I get it right and I don't have to concern myself with filling in all the paper work.

In answer to the orginal question YES my accountant claimed an allowance of a couple of thousand pounds which was due to some new tax regulations which I would never have known about.

So for a total fee of £275 (for two of us) which is also tax deductable, well worth the money and no concerns of not filling out paper work incorrectly.

Steve G

[lee_dewing]

dai, inland rev do free half day course, to do your books

sounds like you don't need to do that

i get ped off with mine but he seems to save me a few bob.

[daz1977]

i have been on the course and it is worth half a day of your time