Authorising Agent Companies House/HMRC

[helen0722]

Need advices please to ensure I am doing the right thing!

Can someone please tell me what forms I need from Companies House and HMRC for Authorising Agent to act on behalf of my client.

For HMRC I understand is Authorising Agent form 64-8 but not sure for Companies house?

What a big change from when I last done accounting work, everything is online I need to update myself. Does everything have to be file online? is online better than paper filing? cheaper etc?

Do I need special softwares to file papers both to Companies House and HMRC, or can I use my own software and file them that way. I will be using VT Final accounts and BTC? Before I just used Sage then send the paperwork to both by post this online thing has thrown me off track where I am willing to get back.

I would like to get all this sorted before I see my client.

Thanks Everybody

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Need advices please to ensure I am doing the right thing!

Can someone please tell me what forms I need from Companies House and HMRC for Authorising Agent to act on behalf of my client.

For HMRC I understand is Authorising Agent form 64-8 but not sure for Companies house?

What a big change from when I last done accounting work, everything is online I need to update myself. Does everything have to be file online? is online better than paper filing? cheaper etc?

Do I need special softwares to file papers both to Companies House and HMRC, or can I use my own software and file them that way. I will be using VT Final accounts and BTC? Before I just used Sage then send the paperwork to both by post this online thing has thrown me off track where I am willing to get back.

I would like to get all this sorted before I see my client.

Thanks Everybody

Hi Helen

Have you registered as an agent yet with HMRC?

In my firm we no longer use the old paper 64-8 forms just use the agent online authorisation process, much quicker and easier I think.

You dont need to register in the same way with Companies House.

I havent used paper forms for a very long time everything as far as possible is done online it's quicker, easier and saves money/paper.

I know some smaller agents use HMRC software for tax returns etc but I personally prefer third party software. Have a look at TaxCalc for SA and CT returns and Moneysoft for payroll. TaxCalc works well with VT.

 

[Anna Chandley]

For Companies House you need to register for webfiling. Once this is done all you need is your clients authentication code.

For HMRC you need to register as an agent and get your agent ID codes then use the online agent authorisation process. You can still use the paper 64-8 but the online process is quicker.

You can file accounts online directly from VT final accounts and tax returns can be filed online directly from BTC.

Anna

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Sorry my reply about not registering with Companies House in the same way was misleading - you do as Anna quite rightly says have to register for Webfiling, but it's a doddle compared to registering as an Agent with HMRC, or it certainly was the times I've done it in the past. HMRC may of course have greatly improved what was a painful process

 

[Chris Smail]

Are you qualified and thus regulated for ML purposes through your institute? If not you will need to register with HMRC.

 

[teddys]

HMRC may of course have greatly improved what was a painful process

HMRC are indeed improving (except may be the PAYE desks!)- they're slowly switching to e-mail communication; at times they even respond by calling you back on your phone, you get messages online for VAT registration/deregistration etc etc. And the new agent strategy means all qualified agents can expect greater access to client information!!!

 

[Alan @ Cloud Accounting]

If you don't know about this stuff, then you probably won't know about the MLR stuff. If you're not reg'd by a professional body, you'll need to reg with HMRC. This is a PITA but as MLR infractions carry hefty fines, it's worth doing.

EDIT: Just saw Chris's post about the same thing.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

HMRC are indeed improving (except may be the PAYE desks!)- they're slowly switching to e-mail communication; at times they even respond by calling you back on your phone, you get messages online for VAT registration/deregistration etc etc. And the new agent strategy means all qualified agents can expect greater access to client information!!!

In my experience things such as VAT registrations and PAYE registrations are dealt with online generally very quickly and efficiently but not other matters.

Getting HMRC to respond to letters and things such as CIS refunds within a reasonable time scale is nigh on impossible much worse than a few years ago in my experience.

But sorry dont want to go off topic I was referring to how quickly and efficiently HMRC register agents - it used to be a painful process with no one at HMRC knowing who did want and what was required but as I last did it about 5 years ago I dont know if they've improved. Cant have got worse