Student Loan

mcmillanuk

Hi there,

Sorry if this is in he wrong place, but I couldn't see the correct area.

I've just paid £6000 of outstanding Student Loans in two payments - £2500 & £3500 within a year. It turns out my accountant hadn't put in any Student Loan arrears on my Self Assessment and I was subsequently investigated and asked to pay it asap.

As my accountant is nominated to act on my behalf, does he therefore have access to my Student Loans account and (as part of his job) should he have not put this in my Self Assessment?

I understand the money was due, but I would have preferred to pay it on a monthly basis for the last two years and spread the cost somewhat. If not, should he have contacted me and told me to contact Student Loans?

Thanks,

Neil

Mikeyorks

Did you tell your accountant you were repaying a Student Loan? If not he can hardly be responsible for the omission. He won't have access to your account with SLC. The norm is that you simply tick the box on SA to the effect SLC repayments are due and it calculates them at 9% of your gross above £15k. It doesn't work as 'arrears'.

mcmillanuk

Thanks for replying.

Unfortunately it brings about another point - my business partner and I had been using the accountant for two years previously and our Student Loans had been getting repaid, however I have a suspicion that the accountant was filling in my business partner's Self Assessment and then copying it for mine.

Once my business partner's Student Loan was paid off, I think he has continued to duplicate them. I've asked for copies of the Self Assessments for all previous years to confirm this, but he appears to be having difficulty getting these to me...

So yes, he knew there were Student Loans, but I think I've been duped somewhat - once I have the previous Self Assessments then I can be sure.

From the accountant not ticking the box, I was investigated last January for this and was made to pay the £3500 right away (for 2007/2008) and I would have assumed the accountant would have asked for the next Self Assessment if there was any further (having received a copy of the investigation) to be paid, but once again he didn't.

I appreciate that I should have been keeping a check on this, but I would have assumed an accountant would have kept track of this for me (and that's why he gets paid so well). Isn;t that why you employ someone to fill out a Self Assessment and if there's any queries, he should be getting in touch?

Sorry for the long-windedness of this, but it's just a bit of a kick in the stones for this week.

Neil

Mikeyorks

Under the circumstances you describe - then clearly he should have been fully completing the SA Returns. And including the SLC aspect as he was aware of it (and had prior data to remind him).

But doesn't he run it past you before submission?

mcmillanuk

Nope, that's why I'm needing to get hold of the Self Assessments since he started doing them.

He was recommended by my late father & I let him get on with it - I think it's fair to say that there's now zero confidence & his delay in getting these documents to me just riles me further.

If it occurs that the Self Assessments are identical, I'm going to pursue it further as I'll be looking for a fair refund.

Would you expect to see a copy of the Self Assessment before it was submitted or just receive a phone call to cover issures such as SLC?

Thanks again for helping me out

Mikeyorks

mcmillanuk wrote: »

Would you expect to see a copy of the Self Assessment before it was submitted or just receive a phone call to cover issures such as SLC?

If you ran a customer poll I suspect you'd get a preference for the 'phone call? On the basis of not keeping a dog and having to do the barking yourself !
As a personal preference - I'd always want to see the copy. As ultimately it's your responsibility.

mcmillanuk

It's a fair point & I think a lesson learned! Think I'll chance my arm as we still owe for last years return and say we'll pay half of it for the 50% completeion as there's no contract.

As for everything else, I'll find someone else and take your advice on being more in touch with all matters!