Tax assist - any experience?

Little_Vics

We're relatively new to our area and are looking for an accountant to do our tax return (it's v complicated and I wouldn't dare do it myself). Tax Assist have been recommended to us, and I wondered if anyone had any experience of using them?

Pennywise

Tax Assist is a franchise operation, so the service you get will depend on who has the local franchise. Some will, but some won't be qualified accountants. Probably more for the general/average small business rather than anything too specialist.

If you have a particularly complicated tax return, you are better going to a tax specialist rather than a general accountancy firm. I'd suggest you try to find a member of the Institute of Taxation - that's basically a tax specialist professional body. Google for it and I'm sure that they'll have a list/directory of members for you to choose from.

trevormax

Pennywise wrote: »

If you have a particularly complicated tax return, you are better going to a tax specialist rather than a general accountancy firm. I'd suggest you try to find a member of the Institute of Taxation - that's basically a tax specialist professional body. Google for it and I'm sure that they'll have a list/directory of members for you to choose from.

I'd agree with Pennywise on this. Some of the qualifications would be ATT and CTA for instance. Don't confuse AAT with ATT. AAT = association of accountancy technicians and ATT = association of taxation technicians. CTA = chartered tax accountant and I think you have to have the ATT qualification (or similar) to do CTA.

If they have the ATT and CTA quals, they should be answerable to the chartered institute of taxation (CIOT) whom you can complain to if things go pete tong.

Little_Vics

eek - I'm guessing it will depend on the person then. We've got a free appointment next week, so will suss it out then. Thanks for your advice.