Self assessment tax, accountant still hasn't filed it.

4114Effects

Is this normal? I signed up with an accountant to make doing my taxes a little easier, and maybe save me some tax too. Or so I thought. It's now the day before the deadline and he hasn't told me how much I owe yet.

I did ring on Tueesday to chase up, to be told that it was in hand and not to worry, I'd be informed by the end of the week. I've now realised that I will have tomorrow to pay it, or have to pay a £100 fine. I can only imagine it will be a nightmare getting through to the tax office tomorrow, if much rather have known a couple of weeks ago and paid it off early.

Do all accountants work this way or have I just ended up with a crappy one?

BloodEagle

You dont have to pay it yet do you - just file it online? I submitted mine on Monday and it gave me a rough idea of how much it would be - maybe he's not actually submitted it yet, though realistically he should be able to give you a good idea how much it you owe at this stage.
I have the lucky/unlucky scenario of being married to an accountant, so she does all my tax and stuff - unfortunately this also means she can nag me about my unique filing system and approach to record keeping etc

4114Effects

@bloodeagle you have to file and pay before January 31st, hence my annoyance.

FelineGuitars

Yes - proving that like everybody else even accountants can leave their work until the last minute.

Has he given you a ballpark idea of what the figures will be ...so you can have money ready to pay.

Also as the 30 & 31st are at a weekend you do kind of need to know in case you need to pay it at a bank etc 

Obviously most people do it electronically

axisus

Did mine myself about 2 weeks ago. The site is a major PITA (did a thread about it!), but I got it sorted and paid online as soon as I had a figure.

BloodEagle

4114Effects said:

@bloodeagle you have to file and pay before January 31st, hence my annoyance.

oh shit, did not know that. guess i'd better pay it then haha

Paul_C

much to my surprise I did mine last year

Moe_Zambeek

I did mine in September I think...

Skodadad

My missus does both of ours (partnership) I find it really easy as a result.
The most annoying part is the tutting and occasionally groan, but I just turn the TV up.

Heartfeltdawn

Did mine in April. Nay worries!

BloodEagle

smug bastards

RaymondLin

I only got mine from the accountant last week, handed him the papers last September. Once he given you your reference number and amount to pay, it's very easy to pay online. It's a 1 min job, like buying something on Amazon except there is no delivery at the end of it.

Budgie

It's the time of the year. My accountant begs for accounts from about September so he can try and avoid the end of year rush from his clients. I don't think I've ever submitted mine before January before - much to his annoyance, I think they have to burn the midnight oil a bit... serves 'em right for the outrageous amount they charge . Having said that, it is getting a bit close to the day!! I suppose I'd best pay my tax... or maybe tomorrow. Probably.

scrumhalf

Just did mine, and my VAT return as well. Tax-return and tax-paying days are the days I am at my most grumpy.

underdog

Paid ours last night, done the return last week. That's pretty organised for us, made the same old promise that I will do my next one in April, like I say every January

RedRabbit

4114Effects said:

Is this normal? I signed up with an accountant to make doing my taxes a little easier, and maybe save me some tax too. Or so I thought. It's now the day before the deadline and he hasn't told me how much I owe yet.

I did ring on Tueesday to chase up, to be told that it was in hand and not to worry, I'd be informed by the end of the week. I've now realised that I will have tomorrow to pay it, or have to pay a £100 fine. I can only imagine it will be a nightmare getting through to the tax office tomorrow, if much rather have known a couple of weeks ago and paid it off early.

Do all accountants work this way or have I just ended up with a crappy one?

When did you send your records in?

I'm currently sat here working my way through what I'm hoping will be my last tax return job for the year.  The records came in a couple of weeks ago but being one of the last to get his information to us means that he's one of the last ones we do.  

At the moment it's touch and go as to whether it'll be finished on time but I have at least been in touch with him to ask questions and let him know where we are up to.  

BigMonka

Paul_C said:

much to my surprise I did mine last year

You know you have to do a tax return every year right? 

guitarcookie1

Three more tax returns to do here & two of them haven't given me the info for them yet...

Same two every year (if they were't relatives of other clients they'd be getting the boot).

ESBlonde

So many individuals submit tax data to their accountants during January to be completed (alongside everyone else that's late) by the deadline. If you want to be on time; be early!

Luckily accountants have nothing better to do on those dark winter evenings than sift through inadequate incomplete records of people that couldn't get there arse into gear.

/Rant.

Snap

You know if you overpay, you get a refund.

I did mine yesterday, will check the calc tomorrow, and pay up. I pay on account, so when I file my return it doesn't autmatically included any payments on account I've already made (on account means you effectively pay next years tax, thisyear)

Grunfeld

Just submitted mine. 

I have not found "inner peace."  Instead I have a headache.  I want a cup of tea.