Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Help with missing accountant

Options
  • 21-05-2015 8:28pm
    #1
    alibabastephen
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭


    Hi,

    Hoping someone can help me as I am having too many sleepless nights over this.

    I started a business and on advise of my accountant was told it be best to set up LTD company and VAT register. I did as I knew no better and paying €1400 i thought they know best.

    I gave him my VAT every 2 months and he checked it over and submitted to Revenue. Then he did up my Tax Return for year 1. I met him and gave him the files last June. Long story short, I haven't met him since. I got a letter in October saying he was closing down and my new accountant would be XYZ. ( I didn't go with this new accountant)

    So I tried to call my accountant but phone not working (In the last year he went from his own company, to join another company, back to his own practise) Then he closed up. All the time I have dealt with him. I emailed and emailed and got a response saying his phones have been cut off and he will call me. This was in October.

    I have literally emailed and emailed and emailed my accountant.... no reply - then I get replies few weeks later saying "Sorry was out of office, busy, ill call you back etc) But NO calls at all. This is going on every 2 weeks since October!

    Now to clarify - I owe him €1400 - which I have said in EVERY email "When I meet you Ill give you the €1400 and you can give me the files". But I have said this in EVERY single email. My accountant has ALL my receipts/records. I cannot get replacements for most of them as they were handwritten receipts.

    What am I going to do? I spoke to Revenue who said its my responsibility - nothing they can do but said if I get an audit they will estimate my first year.

    I am so worried about this its effecting my sleep. Stressed to the last and just want to close my limited company. The stress of running a business and on top of it all this rubbish I just want to finish up tbh as I don;t want Revenue fining me because my account won't meet me. :(


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    macflea
    Registered Users Posts: 48 ✭macflea


    hi aliba ,

    ring www.carb.ie if he is a chartered accountant , they might be able to help you or advise you.

    he should have professional ideminity insurance to cover his negligence towards you

    cheers


  • Options
    #3
    alibabastephen
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭alibabastephen


    macflea wrote: »
    hi aliba ,

    ring if he is a chartered accountant , they might be able to help you or advise you.

    he should have professional ideminity insurance to cover his negligence towards you

    cheers

    Yes he is! Thank you very much. I think I have been very patient but now I feel its taking the p+ss and its just the worry about not getting my files back. I don't even care so much for paying VAT and it costing me money...just my files is my biggest worry :(


  • Options
    #4
    Sunny Dayz
    Registered Users Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭Sunny Dayz


    As you had set up a limited company, have those accounts been prepared and filed with the Companies Registration Office?


  • Options
    #5
    alibabastephen
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭alibabastephen


    Hi,

    The Annual Return was submitted. When I gave him the files - the €1400 was for below:

    Financial statements
    Abridged accounts
    Corporation tax calculation
    Consultation fees

    So, when I met him I gave him my files. He was to do up the return and submit it. Then he was supposed to meet me and go through all this with me.

    But literally has disappeared. Last phone calls (He has gone through 3 numbers - none now working) he said "Ill phone you Monday to arrange to meet you" - nothing (This was September). I emailed him (as none of the 3 numbers are working) and since September/October its been the same.

    I don;t understand why he can't meet me for 2 mins and give me the files and take his money.

    Its not like I am questioning the invoice I have always said "I need to pay you the €1400 when I meet you" and I will (Even though the only thing on the invoice I know he has done is submit my return - I don't know about the rest)

    I actually feel like closing my business, as the anxiety pains are not worth it and this is on my mind the whole time :/


  • Options
    #6
    macflea
    Registered Users Posts: 48 ✭macflea


    hi al,

    i was told to send a letter to my acuntant stating that i wish all information held by him to be released under the data protection act of 1988 and 2003 and to enclose the statuary sum of 6.35 euros. i think he then has 40 days to reply or else he has to answer to data commisioner. thats what i was told to do .

    i know what you going are though, i am currently there in the same situation , it would drive you over the edge.

    mac


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    dbran
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 2,094 Mod ✭✭✭✭dbran


    Did you try contacting the new accountant to see if they have the books?


  • Options
    #8
    macflea
    Registered Users Posts: 48 ✭macflea


    dbran

    i take you were talking to me , i got some of my stuff back eventually without having to send that letter , but he wont provide a clearance for new accountant so that they can continue to do my accounts . its seems accountants are slow to act as your new agent till they get this professional clearance from old acountant i think thats why he is being difficult ,if thats the right term. old fella fully paid up showed receipts to new fella etc . the reason is my accounts were all done wrong as well , they all need to be redone , i think new accountant is going to include an expression of interest which give them the ability to redo accounts if i get an audit or should i say when as its most likely now .

    mac


  • Options
    #9
    alibabastephen
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭alibabastephen


    Hi,

    Yes I did - my new accountant hasn't heard anything back (its been 4 weeks since I signed up to the new accountant) I will be meeting my new accountant Monday so I think I will just tell him to close the LTD company down altogether as I can't go on like this.

    I thought when I signed up to an accountant - I send them my sales/purchases every month and that was that. They would tell me "Steve being VAT registered is costing you money - you need to de register" or they would say give me some feedback on my business. Maybe I am being Naive. I certainly didn't think he would not tell me it was costing me money.

    So right now I have nothing from the accountant - he has my files, I don't know it all that other stuff on the invoice was done. I don't know what files I should have from him to prove he did that €1400 worth of work. All I know he did was submit my return (B1). (Which BTW My B1 Return has errors - small ones I think but errors)


  • Options
    #10
    alibabastephen
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭alibabastephen


    macflea wrote: »
    hi al,

    i was told to send a letter to my acuntant stating that i wish all information held by him to be released under the data protection act of 1988 and 2003 and to enclose the statuary sum of 6.35 euros. i think he then has 40 days to reply or else he has to answer to data commisioner. thats what i was told to do .

    i know what you going are though, i am currently there in the same situation , it would drive you over the edge.

    mac

    Maybe we have the same accountant? ha


  • Options
    #11
    BabySlam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 349 ✭✭BabySlam


    There are companies out there who specialise in closing up companies. There will be a fee of 200-400 for this service. You will no longer need to comply with all the bureaucracy that comes with being a company. You can register as a sole trader and submit much easier tax returns (a book-keeper or accountant can do this - it will not be as expensive as company accounts).

    Contact one of these and see what they say. It sounds like the company structure is too onerous for you.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    alibabastephen
    Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭alibabastephen


    Hi

    Thanks - Yes being a LTD company is too much.

    I am bad with numbers and this is why I decided on day 1 to hire an accountant to look after the books/records.

    My new accountant can't believe I was advised to be one (I didn't ever want to be a LTD company as there was no other director just me, so in the end I had to use my dad to be a director because the accountant said I need another director) I know nothing about LTD companies etc. Foolish me and lesson learnt.

    If I close the company - does it matter about the files? Can I forget this? Or can Revenue still come knocking looking for them if they decide to audit me?

    I had all my records, sorted perfectly and all in tact - then gave them to my missing accountant for him to do the B1 return.

    Now, I have no invoices, no receipts for my purchases, bank statements - my missing accountant has all these :/ and I am sick with worry.


  • Options
    #13
    macflea
    Registered Users Posts: 48 ✭macflea


    hi ali,


    do you use online banking , you can print off historic statements free going back 7 years i think. ulsterbank bank statements ones are quite good cos if using a debit card ,it will tell you where you spent your money.
    cheques , get onto business section and you can get an image off all your cheques you wrote on your account so you will have a record of what you spent and to whom

    if you had an account somewhere , ie a large builder provider for example , everything is computerise ring them and explained that you lost receipts and could you have a printout of you accounts for all your purschases for the year
    a lot of company are computerisse and keep records so they know what they paid you or you paid them.

    sit down with bank statements and look at your lodgings for the company earnings , you would have a fairly good idea of where your money came from.

    thanks what i did, with a bit of detective work , i was able to make a complete set of record again
    mac


Advertisement