The accountant - worth every penny?

[NETT Darren]

The best books that you can record your accounts on are Simplex D or Collins accout book, both available from W H Smith or Staples, i go through this way of keeping accounts on the first morning of the course.
It simply has box collums for you to fill in the info, the 3 headings are Takings, stock purchased for resale and expenses, after you have filled in the right £s there is a simple summary at the bottom and thats it.
There is 1 page for every week of the year, fill it out and hand all the reciepts and the book to your accountant and thats it,
Simple

[grumpygrouter]

Originally Posted by 365drills

I paid an accountant £500 for submitting a tax return on my behalf in year one. I used him for basic advice and after that I do it myself.

He was just a back up to make sure I was doing the right things. As it turns out he managed to clear up a few legal issues of which I had the wrong info on.

If you have a good understanding then use them in year one.

Then do it yourself.

Bit heavy that just for a tax return! I do full company accounts and corporation tax returns for less than that!

[NETT Darren]

he is talking London prices though Grumps, cannot see any of them boys down there being cheap

[365drills]

I thought it was a bit steep. He basically did a one hour consultation. Ran through some tax issues.

I supplied him full sage figures with all the workings. He completed the tax return and sent it to me for a signature.

The only extra bits he did was to advise on a complicated legal issue over tax relief on a non-contractual payment. Even then I did most of the background work myself.

I think he knew I wouldnt be back next year (my wife is a qualified accountant) and that we only wanted to verify what we were doing. So he probably slapped a bit on.

But yes London prices !

[James@BAL]

Originally Posted by NETT Darren

he is talking London prices though Grumps, cannot see any of them boys down there being cheap

I'm paying that, well £470 + £99 insurance, in Glasgow.
I am being ripped off though. I need to find a new CA pronto.