We have a new client, previous accountant clueless and after much haranguing by me have only just sent over the information requested and much of that is missing (after four months of asking)

Trade creditors: note on balance sheet breakdowns to 'ask the client for a breakdown of this figure'.

Client unsurprisingly has no idea as to the breakdown

Manual books being kept (shambles)

Corporation tax bill is due to be paid very soon

Any suggestions? previous accountant very unhelpful and defensive. I have neither the time nor inclination to go to the governing body (ACCA) I just want the information so that we can finalise this set and move on. We are doing the bookkeeping from this point!

Ta in advance.
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Suggestions? - invest in some mid-night oil and a lot of Redbull!

Joking aside if this were my client I think I'd make an estimate of the CT due, add 10% as a margin of safety and get it paid to HMRC tomorrow. Then I'd work methodically through the mess to get accurate accounts in time for the CT600 filing deadline. Hopefully I'd have over estimated the tax due and the client will get a refund plus a little bit of interest.

Good luck with it!

Regards.

David.
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If creditors are nonsence, then so are purchases, and so are profits. If client is very profitable, with overstated creditors then this is sugguesting a very big and fundamental error in the accounts.

Is this perhaps Uninvoiced creditors? Are there any large contracts floating around? I am assuming that you've had a good look through the post year end invoices for the next few months.

Do you not still have the option on the CT600 to enter it as "provisional". I know that this does increase drastically the changes of an aspect enquiry, but to be honest, from what you've been saying, one is likely anyway.

Good Luck
Sandra
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Hi

Woah, what a mess!
I think I'd go with the same approach as David. Get the CT covered as best you can, which takes a little of the pressure off.

I always come to the conclusion, with accounts that are messy, that it saves time in the long run to just do them properly, sometimes from scratch, than trying to piece together what's already been done and getting a huge headache.

As to the creditors, it's a tricky one. Get an accurate figure from the client as best you can and then have fun making that fit with the TB/ o/bals.... :p

Good luck, I think you might need it :)

Kind regards
Jenni
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I always come to the conclusion, with accounts that are messy, that it saves time in the long run to just do them properly, sometimes from scratch, than trying to piece together what's already been done and getting a huge headache.

I would defiantly agree with Jenni on that. It usually is much easier to start again than attempt to sort out the mess. Your really are going to earn you fee!!
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Suggestions? - invest in some mid-night oil and a lot of Redbull!

Joking aside if this were my client I think I'd make an estimate of the CT due, add 10% as a margin of safety and get it paid to HMRC tomorrow. Then I'd work methodically through the mess to get accurate accounts in time for the CT600 filing deadline. Hopefully I'd have over estimated the tax due and the client will get a refund plus a little bit of interest.

Good luck with it!

Regards.

David.

Yep - only way forward but without the red bull :p
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Presumably you're nearly 9 months into the year, so you've got another month for Companies House. I would write to CH now and ask for an extension to the filing deadline of say 2/3 months explaining the problems with the previous agent. Never had it turned down so far :cool:

You've got 3 months to get the CT 600 submitted, so apart from the CT you've then got 3 months to start again. Late payment of CT only incurs interest, so not too much of a disaster - a cost they will have to incur for previously using a cr*p accountant. You can guess what they need to pay to minimise the interest

I would probably charge the client for redoing the accounts and suggest that he take it up with the previous agent. I would also suggest to the client that the incompetence be brought to the attention of ACCA. There is a complaints form on their website (http://www.accaglobal.com/members/professionalstandards/complaints/how?session=fffffffeffffffff0a0121384831dcb442efba efa8ca75e402877410cbe47a9c) and at the very least it might prompt a monitoring visit to help stop the rest of us getting a bad name
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