SMF - Just Installed!

Accountants

Started by Mr Sheldon, October 31, 2015, 10:35:31 PM

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Mr Sheldon

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how to find a good accountant?  Also, what kind of charges should I be looking at paying per hour for their work? What is the average charge for self assessment returns/

thanks

Hippogriff

Ask around local firms and compare?

What do you do if you need an Electrician?

Mr Sheldon



Thanks. I don't really know anyone who uses an accountant so therefore able to recommend to me. It is a bit like builders. they can need to come highly recommend. Is there a way round this?

CaveDweller

Are you looking for someone to do your tax return. If so I have someone I use I can recommend. They're not accountants but they have a large property portfolio and lots of experience in saving you money. They complete the tax return for £49 so are quite cheap.

Or are you after someone for other reasons?

theangrylandlord

#4
Sheldon
I can let you have my brothers details who is a qualified accountant and runs an accoutancy firm.
He is also a landlord so knows the trials and tribulations of your plight and is intimately aware of loopholes and allowances etc to legitiamately reduce your tax bill.

He deals with HMRC regularly and some of his stories are quite astounding as to what you can and cannot do
Given his reading of tax law and the reporting rules he (and probably any decent accountant) could reduce your tax bill.
(He certainly has mine) but I doubt an accountant would do all that for £49.00.

The real value is not in completing the tax return as anyone can do that, the real value is in optimising your tax position to legitiamately reduce your tax bill - so as CaveDweller has asked you need to consider what is it you want? (1) Complete a tax form or (2) Reduce your bill?  Although possibly if you have a small portfolio then the savings might not outweigh the cost of the accountant.

Best of luck

Enfieldone

The angry landlord may I have your brothers details please

Many thanks

theangrylandlord

I've sent it you via the PM (private message ?) function.
Let me know if you don't get it.

Best of luck

Angel_Commercial_Finance

My experience is that you're likely to get a reasonably-priced local firm if the work isn't too complicated or specialist. Your local Chamber of Commerce can help find one.
The only problem with using non-qualified people is that they probably won't be insured with professional indemnity insurance or be properly regulated in the event something goes wrong.
You can expect to pay £150 +VAT an hour or so for a high street partner, less for an assistant / associate, depending on the size of the firm, a bit like solicitors. Bigger firms are able to command higher fees, but some charge less for straightforward tax return work as it's usually done by a supervised minion anyway, and it can be a loss-leader leading to more lucrative work in future.
I think that, like anything else, it's often a false economy to do things on the cheap.