Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: britishwill on May 09, 2012, 05:28:37 pm

Title: For those people that used accountants
Post by: britishwill on May 09, 2012, 05:28:37 pm
Just had my self employment accounts bill come in and was charged £500.
Does this sound about right?
I have no VAT etc,  just a simple set of accounts well ordered and up to date.
Just interested in what you pay if thats not too rude!
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Afterglow Window Cleaners on May 09, 2012, 05:31:24 pm
My accounts bill last year was 118 + VAT  :)
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: combat1 on May 09, 2012, 05:39:45 pm
If you have that simple a set of accounts why dont you utilise the george computer programme, cost £50 as a one off and submit your tax return online. cost nil.
Its really not complicated and theres lots of help.
Cheers
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Dave Willis on May 09, 2012, 05:43:09 pm
£110 for me. There's very little for them to do if you use George to be honest.
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: sparkleglass on May 09, 2012, 05:55:40 pm
£295.00 with tax return .. if he saves you money then its ok,
 ::)
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: bobplum on May 09, 2012, 05:59:14 pm
have mine done monthly by a book keeper,£30.00 a month,£360.00 a year but every month i know how the business is doing and how much tax i am due to pay
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Ian101 on May 09, 2012, 06:10:15 pm
Dont mind admiting I was stiched up by mine last year @ £850+VAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friend of a friend so trusted him.

He did prepare a nice set of management accounts - OTT for a mere window cleaner.

He also got me back more than I paid him so sweetened the pain.
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Window Washers on May 09, 2012, 06:12:17 pm
Dont mind admiting I was stiched up by mine last year @ £850+VAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friend of a friend so trusted him.

He did prepare a nice set of management accounts - OTT for a mere window cleaner.

He also got me back more than I paid him so sweetened the pain.
:o how many staff do you have ?
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Smudgeoff Cleaning Services on May 09, 2012, 06:13:37 pm
£300 for accounts and tax return
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Ian101 on May 09, 2012, 06:18:41 pm
Dont mind admiting I was stiched up by mine last year @ £850+VAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friend of a friend so trusted him.

He did prepare a nice set of management accounts - OTT for a mere window cleaner.

He also got me back more than I paid him so sweetened the pain.
:o how many staff do you have ?

mmm all together in total lemme work it out ......................

well theres me and errrr thats it ........... so just the 1  ;D ;D

yup well stitched I know but in the spirit of this forum he was dumped and replaced with only 1 though.

One of my customers is an accountant so he will be doing them @ £300.

Thinking back I nearly told him to do 1 but nice refund so swallowed it
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Paul Coleman on May 09, 2012, 06:22:55 pm
Just had my self employment accounts bill come in and was charged £500.
Does this sound about right?
I have no VAT etc,  just a simple set of accounts well ordered and up to date.
Just interested in what you pay if thats not too rude!

This is too much for a non VATed sole trader with a relativerly simple business.  You can get it for half that.  I paid £268 for the most recent one.
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Frankybadboy on May 09, 2012, 06:51:06 pm
£150 for me and that enough :P
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: jarvy on May 09, 2012, 07:03:14 pm
£300 a year for mine,dd @ £25 a month.
Never miss it,and 1 less bill to sort out at the end of the year.
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: red star on May 09, 2012, 07:13:20 pm
250 quid and he then claims it back as a expense so it really doesnt cost anything
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: deeege on May 09, 2012, 07:25:52 pm
For all those saying £150 - £300 etc I'm guessing you are all sole traders?

Any LTD companies want to say how much they are paying their accountants?

(I'm paying similar to what Ian paid last year. Limited company, 2 directors, 2 personal tax returns etc)

I changed over from my old accountant at the start of this year and my new guy managed to find £23k that could be offset against our tax liability that my previous accountant had missed.  :o
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: red star on May 09, 2012, 07:36:49 pm
When I was limited I paid 1200 year 100 a month inc payroll etc again all offset
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: andrew christopher on May 09, 2012, 07:48:02 pm
250 quid and he then claims it back as a expense so it really doesnt cost anything



It still costs £200. You only save the tax you would have paid at 20% on the £250 expense. Which is £50.(if you are basic tax rate payer)

For example if you spend £1000 for your business you dont save £1000 tax you dont have to pay the tax on the £1000 which is an expense and not taxable profit. Which is £200. (if you are basic tax rate payer)
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Londoner on May 09, 2012, 08:00:49 pm
I walk in, hand him my George report for the year and walk out. He then does very little work and charges me £250 for the privelige.

 
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Halfadaylee on May 09, 2012, 08:17:07 pm
I walk in, hand him my George report for the year and walk out. He then does very little work and charges me £250 for the privelige.

 

Snap, only mine put the vat on top though.
Top guy ex revenue.
Art
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Roy Cauldery on May 09, 2012, 08:32:38 pm
i get charged payment in kind ;)
my partner has her own accountancy business 8)

Regards
Roy
p.s she specialises in window cleaning!! follow the link  guys he he  :D :D



www.phoenixecs.co.uk
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Steve Sed on May 09, 2012, 08:42:16 pm
I paid nothing. I did it myself and have done since I have been self employed.
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Cliff perkins on May 09, 2012, 08:56:38 pm
I paid nothing. I did it myself and have done since I have been self employed.
You can do mine then steve lol ,mine was £300 aswell ;D
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on May 09, 2012, 09:29:21 pm
father in laws an accountant
just means i have to clean the in laws lol ;D
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: H S and Son on May 09, 2012, 11:07:14 pm
250 quid and he then claims it back as a expense so it really doesnt cost anything



It still costs £200. You only save the tax you would have paid at 20% on the £250 expense. Which is £50.(if you are basic tax rate payer)

For example if you spend £1000 for your business you dont save £1000 tax you dont have to pay the tax on the £1000 which is an expense and not taxable profit. Which is £200. (if you are basic tax rate payer)


+1

In other words he pays out £250 for his accountancy bill and his tax bill is reduced by just £50.00.
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Window Washers on May 09, 2012, 11:17:14 pm
I paid nothing. I did it myself and have done since I have been self employed.
it may well pay you to get an accountant, the reason they are there is because they are upto date with what you can and can't claim back, false economy doing it yourself IMO, I had my wife and godfather do mine for a couple of years, I went to an accountant and they reeled off stuff they I should have not paid tax on. Each to thier own though mate, if your happy doing it. I very *friendly* persone you, could not think of anything more boring to do with my time
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Total shine cleaning services on May 10, 2012, 01:16:21 am
I'm a ltd company and pay £75 per month minus the £20 I charge to clean my accountants house

Graham
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Paul Coleman on May 10, 2012, 03:56:28 pm
250 quid and he then claims it back as a expense so it really doesnt cost anything



It still costs £200. You only save the tax you would have paid at 20% on the £250 expense. Which is £50.(if you are basic tax rate payer)

For example if you spend £1000 for your business you dont save £1000 tax you dont have to pay the tax on the £1000 which is an expense and not taxable profit. Which is £200. (if you are basic tax rate payer)


+1

In other words he pays out £250 for his accountancy bill and his tax bill is reduced by just £50.00.

Don't forget that the class 4 NI would be reduced too (think that's about 11%).  That would then be 31% (20% + 11%) of the £250 (about £80).
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Steve Sed on May 10, 2012, 04:14:40 pm
I paid nothing. I did it myself and have done since I have been self employed.
it may well pay you to get an accountant, the reason they are there is because they are upto date with what you can and can't claim back, false economy doing it yourself IMO, I had my wife and godfather do mine for a couple of years, I went to an accountant and they reeled off stuff they I should have not paid tax on. Each to thier own though mate, if your happy doing it. I very *friendly* persone you, could not think of anything more boring to do with my time

It is just a self assessment. It is dead easy. Turnover less costs. Takes an hour or so. I don't think I miss anything, but if I did, I seriously doubt it would be in the region of a grand which is what it would need to be to offset the tax saved against the cost of an accountant. That said, if I had staff I would use an accountant.
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Archer on May 11, 2012, 09:14:29 pm

deegee,

i have a limited company, i pay £210 per month to my accountant
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: deeege on May 11, 2012, 10:17:10 pm
Thanks chris. I'd imagine your accounts are not as straightforward as most companies though. (5 vans, vat registered, staff etc)
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Archer on May 12, 2012, 01:59:30 am
deegee,

i was with same accountant for 19 years = total crap


changed nearly 2 years ago to an accountant in Bolton and he is superb, cannot speak highly enough of him, hes been brilliant
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: Mike #1 on May 12, 2012, 05:59:51 am
I paid nothing. I did it myself and have done since I have been self employed.


I did mine for 8 years then got fed up of doing them but no doubt i missed things i could have claimed back so much easier having an accountant .

Mine costs £300 a year that includes filing tax return .

He had to nearly pick me up off the floor the other day when he told me my tax bill had trebled ,   After my earnings had doubled .   But thats life just got to pay it and get on .  MIKE
Title: Re: For those people that used accountants
Post by: William McCafferty on May 12, 2012, 10:34:54 pm
I have a chartered accountant and after taking into account my invoices to him for his office and house window cleaning, he pays me £35 per year ;D

Mind you he is very good, he does the wages, looks after my Ltd company and plans on what I need to do in the coming year to reduce my tax liabilities.

So even if I was not cleaning his windows he would be worth every penny.