Online accountants?

Sallyso

Hi,

I'm looking for an on-line accountant to submit very simple self employed tax returns and was wondering if anybody out there knows of a reputable company that doesn't charge a fortune? I would ideally like to find one where I can send my invoices and expenses via email as I will be unable to visit the accountant personally.

Many thanks

pchelpman

Yes, it should be easy to find someone reputable to help you out on that basis, Sallyso. We do it as, I suspect, do other advisors on this site.

The trouble is with "money laundering" procedures/checks.

We like to meet our clients at least once either here at our office or at their home as we like to have sight of crucial personal documents and get a feel for the client's circumstances.

If you can't go and see an advisor they should be happy to come and visit you, perhaps at your home, although, yes, that might increase the final fee.

Good luck and I hope you are successful in your search.

PlutoinCapricorn

If your affairs are very simple, you want to submit online and keep costs down, why not do it yourself?

You have until January next year to file online directly with HMRC, which gives plenty of time to learn the basics. There are free workshops too.

If you are keeping good records of income and expenses, and are earning under around £60K, you just need to input three amounts.

You can get help on this forum with any questions that you might have.

Sallyso

Thank you both for your replies. The problem is I don't have many accountable expenses (a laptop up to now bought in EU) I also spend a lot of time outside of the UK as I can work from anywhere. (not sure how I would claim small expenses outside of the UK... stationary etc) I am a freelancer, online marketing, writing articles etc. It is for this reason I need some advice with an on-line accountant at least for the first year. I have already registered with HMRC and set up direct debit for NI (few months already paid) and received the self assessment form. I earn roughly the same amount each month. I started self employment Oct. 2010. I'm curious to know if I can claim expenses with receipts in Euros - just small ones like stationary etc.? How would I declare the expenses if receipts are in EUROS? Do a rough conversion to pound sterling? I would be very grateful for further advice.
Many thanks.

pchelpman

In brief, you can claim anything that is wholly & exclusively for your UK taxable business and results in no other personal benefit to you.


Unless you are registered for VAT the is no rule in tax law that states a person in your position can only claim where receipts are kept.


Convert at a reasonable rate. Probably best to choose one close to the actual date of the expenditure.


Hope that helps.

PlutoinCapricorn

Where expenses are concerned, you only need to input a total. You do need some evidence of expenditure if HMRC ever decide to make an enquiry - otherwise many people would inflate their expenses! If you bought something and lost the receipt, HMRC would probably accept it for a packet of envelopes but almost certainly not if it was an expensive laptop!

Businesslink has a lot of useful information.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.l1=1073858808&r.l2=1073859209&r.l3=1082611551&r.s=tl&topicId=1081525877

pchelpman

Our experience is that, IFthe Revenue ask questions and you don't have all receipts, they are usually OK.

Yes, they might expect you to have a receipt for a laptop, in normal circumstances, but, as there's no law that says you must have it, if you lost it but you had the laptop in your possession, I think the taxman would be fine with it. People lose receipts now and again.

In the event of any detailed questions, the items of prime interest to the Revenue will be the books of the business.

Make sure you write down all your income and expenses somewhere (e.g. in an Excel spreadsheet) which shows HOW you have arrived at the expenses claimed.

Tebheag

There used to be a thing on hmrc website for converting foreign currency I used to use it years ago as had a client that did oversea trips as part of his job. as other posters have said do it yourself cheapest way and its a lot easier nowadays.

pchelpman

Useful conversion site, current & historic conversions (but not future ones, unfortunately ) ...

http://www.xe.com/ucc/

Sallyso

Thank you very much for the information. I have a clearer picture now and am considering doing the self assessment form myself. I have one monthly income invoice per month and provide services for one company so that is very straightforward. I have an official laptop receipt (in Euros) in my name and with my UK address so that is no problem either. I really can't think of any other expenses except perhaps the minimum of 3 pounds per week for electricity for the space I use and a few pens and papers! I use no car to visit clients, my work is 100 % on a computer through the internet! (no telephone either) Considering these facts I think that it shouldn't be too complicated to do this myself.
One last question! I started 1st of Oct 2010 so I presume I will have to input details on the form from this date up until the 30th of April 2011?

pchelpman

You can choose whichever date you like for your income and expenses account to finish but, if you want to keep things as simple as possible, the end date should be 5th April 2011 (or 31st March 2011 which the Revenue will usually accept as being the same as 5th April).

Best wishes.