Accountant Or Just Someone To Prepair My Accounts For Taxman?

[RATTER15]

I use QuickBooks for all of my accounts, my business is fairly straight forward, but I am adding a new business soon. Being severely dyslexic and dyscalculic I struggle with accounts, even with QuickBooks. I do use an accountant but I am thinking that as my accounts are very straight forward, maybe I should get shot of my accountant and just get assistance with preparing my accounts privately, I see there are people advertising to do this. What do you think?

[RATTER15]

Or would they just do the book keeping side to submit to my accountant? Im not really sure of their function.

[RATTER15]

Advice anybody?

[EdmundD]

"maybe I should get shot of my accountant and just get assistance with preparing my accounts privately".

Why can't your accountant prepare them for the taxman? It sounds as though you would just be replacing him for another?

[Ellipsis]

> I see there are people advertising to do this. What do you think?

I think it would depend on the people. Accountants have to pass certain qualifications and meet certain standards that ordinary "people" don't have to do. Some "people" are just as good as accountants for some things, but it's very hard to tell without references. So try to get references from business owners who run similar businesses to yours that the person you're looking at is capable of doing the job you need them for.

[ummmm]

They'd be much cheaper than an accountant.

You can do it yourself. I assume you fill in a tax return?

[AuntPollyGrey]

Ratter -get a clerk who is advertising - often they have worked in Accounts and it's a simple process if you don't have problems like you do (no offence my daughter is dyslexic). With Quick books you will have all the info already logged and it's a simple process of filling in the online self-assessment -equally easy to add a new business. Accountants often give the 'easy' accounts to their clerks anyway and just check them over to sign them off.

[RATTER15]

Ok, thanks all. I have just been talking to someone that was advertising, I will give her all incomings and outgoings etc. she will input all this into QuickBooks which will then be gone over at the end of the year by my accountant. That should sort it.
ummmm.. "You can do it yourself. I assume you fill in a tax return/" No my accountant does all that. Dyslexics and forms really dont do well together, especially being dyscalculic as well.
Edmund... A book keeper will charge me far less than an accountant and a little more approachable when I have issues or need advice.

[wolf63]

Ratter - I can't help but your profile picture makes me laugh. Which one is you?
☺

[pixie374]

I'm wondering the same, ratter... I do our bookkeeping, but throw everything at an accountant once a year. It's cheaper, because we have done half of it, but we have to pay for 3 returns- myself, my sister and one for the partnership. Sometimes, it's worth it for the lack of stress, though.
Good to see you :-) xx

[AuntPollyGrey]

If you have kept records all year I really can't see what the stress is. I do four returns -two business, two personal and the forms are so easy to fill in online you can't make a mistake. Accountants make a lot of money by 'looking over' accounts , nothing a bookkeeper can't do. This does not apply of course to Company books or Agriculture businesses which I would always get an accountant to do as they are much more complicated -but simple Self employed/soletrader/partnership accounts are well within the bounds of a good bookeeper.

[Ellipsis]

As you've correctly identified, you can't do it yourself as you are severely dyslexic and dyscalculic. If you're going to get someone else, my advice is to get references and follow them up.

[RATTER15]

Auntpolly. "If you have kept records all year I really can't see what the stress is." I didnt mention stress as far as i'm aware and if you read up on Dyslexia and dyscalculia you will get a better understanding of what I am talking about.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Ratter -wind your neck in I was not referring to you I was answering Pixie at 14.23.

As for the rest of your statement - My youngest daughter suffers from both Dyslexia and Dyspraxia so I've had 34 years to 'understand' the conditions. Thats the last time I answer any of your questions, how rude!

[RATTER15]

Auntpolly, if you weren't answering my question, perhaps you should of mentioned that when answering. So because your daughter has dyslexia you know about me and my dyslexia, if you knew just a little about dyslexia you would have some idea of what I was talking about, when it comes to dyslexia, no two people are alike or have the same issues. So you wont answer anymore of my questions, after your attempt at answering this one, I dont think you will be hugely missed lol.

[Paigntonian]

Any good accountant will SAVE you money. Mine's worth every penny. I pay him few hundred each year and he demonstrably saves me a few thousand.

[RATTER15]

Wolf. "Ratter - I can't help but your profile picture makes me laugh. Which one is you?" obviously I'm the hairy one.

[RATTER15]

Paigntonian, I just paid mine £207 for doing the accounts for one month!
Hopefully my book keeper will also advise me, she appears pretty clued up and of course my accountant can give his two penneth when he gets my accounts already prepared at the end of the year.

[Paigntonian]

Ratter: I'm sure my business activities must be a lot simpler than yours. I expect a college bookkeeper could do mine but I know my accountant has saved me money year on year. Probably helps that we attend the same church!

[pixie374]

Thanks, apg... should probably just do it myself...

[AuntPollyGrey]

Ratter//Question AuthorAuntpolly, if you weren't answering my question, perhaps you should of mentioned that when answering//

I did -you obviously did not read my answer
12.17
//it's a simple process if you don't have problems like you do (no offence my daughter is dyslexic).