Self Employed Income Support Scheme - REJECTED

[gpietersz]

Hello Gpietersz, yes she is properly qualified and has been doing accountancy for many years

Which accountancy body is she a member of?

 

[MBE2017]

I helped a friend apply today, very simple, very straight forward, decision instant. Name, address, NI number, tax reference, bank account details. £3k on its way to them within six days.

In all honesty, I cannot imagine making the process any easier. Something to congratulate the Government on for a change.

 

[paulears]

Mine went through smoothly - my wife was a bit surprised how low it was, but of course, my profits are low too. This is keeping my tax down so I've had the benefit of lower tax and NI for many years - I can't expect to get benefits when I've contributed less, so it seems fair. Lots of small businesses use the allowances to keep profits down, so all seems pretty fair for me.

On the topic problem, I don't understand how an accountant could have produced payslips, and deducted tax and NI for a person self-employed. Surely this is accountancy class week one stuff? It does of course mean that your accountants firm is probably large, and they know your name on paper, and that's why I moved from being a tiny business in a big firm to a small accountant who knows my voice on the phone.

Based on what you say, I suspect their PAYE department has you on the pay list and the accounts department have you as self-employed and they've messed up big time. With a large firm, they'll have the resources to sort this out.

What's the betting they've ot you being paid under the old Ltd company! It does mean they have NOT represented your interests very professionally.

 

[Vending Siting Services]

Which accountancy body is she a member of?

Don't know, I'll find out.

 

[Vending Siting Services]

Mine went through smoothly - my wife was a bit surprised how low it was, but of course, my profits are low too. This is keeping my tax down so I've had the benefit of lower tax and NI for many years - I can't expect to get benefits when I've contributed less, so it seems fair. Lots of small businesses use the allowances to keep profits down, so all seems pretty fair for me.

On the topic problem, I don't understand how an accountant could have produced payslips, and deducted tax and NI for a person self-employed. Surely this is accountancy class week one stuff? It does of course mean that your accountants firm is probably large, and they know your name on paper, and that's why I moved from being a tiny business in a big firm to a small accountant who knows my voice on the phone.

Based on what you say, I suspect their PAYE department has you on the pay list and the accounts department have you as self-employed and they've messed up big time. With a large firm, they'll have the resources to sort this out.

What's the betting they've ot you being paid under the old Ltd company! It does mean they have NOT represented your interests very professionally.

Hello Paul

Good to hear that yours went through smoothly as it has done for many others I am sure.

I am beginning to realise that this is a massive cock up on my accountant's side. She is actually a small concern and works on her own offering accountancy services and has been around for many years and her reaction was not too dissimilar to mine which was total astonishment!! I have checked my returns etc and it appears she has put down my 'profits' as earned income and 'profits earned by self employment' as in the £100's which was the small profit I made for the last accounting year so now I understand why my claim was rejected. Doing all this research has helped and my original outburst to this thread was in reaction to my disbelief and shock and I am aware that I am not the only one. Finally, I agree, she has not represented my interests very professionally.

Kind regards,

Barbara

 

[Vending Siting Services]

I helped a friend apply today, very simple, very straight forward, decision instant. Name, address, NI number, tax reference, bank account details. £3k on its way to them within six days.

In all honesty, I cannot imagine making the process any easier. Something to congratulate the Government on for a change.

Good to hear, looks like their PAPERWORK was filled in correctly unlike mine.

 

[rizbit]

if you are self employed isnt what you earn as profit your 'wages'.

Wages are what employed people get paid isnt it?

 

[Vending Siting Services]

if you are self employed isnt what you earn as profit your 'wages'.

Wages are what employed people get paid isnt it?

Yes that's correct which is why this is an error.

 

[gpietersz]

Don't know, I'll find out.

Most firms will have it on their websites, many in their names: e.g. "Fred Bloggs Chartered Accountants" logos and signboards. Anyone who does not at least have it in the "about" section of their website and their letterheads looks dodgy to me.

Once you know what the professional body is you can go there are check that they are really qualified and licensed to practice.

 

[Newchodge]

Most firms will have it on their websites, many in their names: e.g. "Fred Bloggs Chartered Accountants" logos and signboards. Anyone who does not at least have it in the "about" section of their website and their letterheads looks dodgy to me.

Once you know what the professional body is you can go there are check that they are really qualified and licensed to practice.

You don't have to be qualified and licensed to practice as an accountant. You cannot claim to be a member of an accountancy body if you are not, but anyone and their dog can call themselves an accountant. It seems that not many people know that!

 

[MBE2017]

Good to hear, looks like their PAPERWORK was filled in correctly unlike mine.

I recommended the woman who does my friends returns, she does mine as well. This year, being retired she did my books for £150 for the whole year, the same price to my friend. My accountant has been doing the same for myself for 30+ years, although she used to charge a bit more when she had her annual fees to pay.

Look around and find someone you trust, and get on with. Obviously something has gone badly wrong, but an accountant should know whether to treat you as self employed or an employee. Word of mouth recommendation is the best method of finding a good accountant IMO.

 

[obscure]

The system (I am hoping) will have me down as PAYE so fingers crossed furlough should be accepted, if not, then I will then look deeper.

No... for the love of all that is sacred no!
Fact: you are self employed. As such not legally eligible for Furlough.

It doesn't matter that your "accountant" has been grossly negligent and incorrectly filing paperwork with HMRC - that does not make you legally entitled to Furlough.

If you, as a self employed person, incorrectly (and knowingly) claim Furlough it is fraud and they can come after you.

 

[gpietersz]

You don't have to be qualified and licensed to practice as an accountant. You cannot claim to be a member of an accountancy body if you are not, but anyone and their dog can call themselves an accountant.

Yes, not only can they do so, but they often do. It seems quite common for bookkeepers and the like will call themselves an accountant.

 

[trax7960]

It doesn't matter that your "accountant" has been grossly negligent and incorrectly filing paperwork with HMRC - that does not make you legally entitled to Furlough.

If you, as a self employed person, incorrectly (and knowingly) claim Furlough it is fraud and they can come after you.

CJRS needs an employer name and reference number, so it’s not really possible to claim unless you have an active PAYE scheme anyway.

 

[Newchodge]

CJRS needs an employer name and reference number, so it’s not really possible to claim unless you have an active PAYE scheme anyway.

It is highly possible that there are such references - the OP has an employee and if her own details were added as an employee, the record will be there. It is a bit of a mess and the OP really needs a proper accountant to sort it all out.

 

[alan1302]

Yes, not only can they do so, but they often do. It seems quite common for bookkeepers and the like will call themselves an accountant.

But you said

'Once you know what the professional body is you can go there are check that they are really qualified and licensed to practice'

Now you say you know they don't need to be licenced??

 

[paulears]

There's also a good chance you have paid far more tax and NI than you should have - also if they have paid your NI in as an employee, then your class 2 and 4 slef-emploed contribution account could be in trouble for the future? Go to the pensions website and check your contributions - could be good or bad news there.

 

[gpietersz]

But you said

'Once you know what the professional body is you can go there are check that they are really qualified and licensed to practice'

Now you say you know they don't need to be licenced??

OK, I clearly need to clarify. Anyone can call themselves an accountant, but a professional body restricts which members can offer public practice.

If they are a member of a professional body, their professional body will require them (sole practitioners or principals, not employees) or to be licensed (have a "practising certificate") to engage in public practice, like this: https://www.icaew.com/technical/pra...ds-guidance-and-ethics/practising-certificate

At which point they will appear on public registers of members in practice so their standing can be verified.

 

[Hunnie]

This might be nonsense but does your 'accountant' operate your business as if you are a director?
They can pay themselves wages I think.

 

[Newchodge]

This might be nonsense but does your 'accountant' operate your business as if you are a director?
They can pay themselves wages I think.

A business can only have a director if it is a limited company. That is the problem here!

 

[Rawlinson Pryde]

Most firms will have it on their websites, many in their names: e.g. "Fred Bloggs Chartered Accountants" logos and signboards. Anyone who does not at least have it in the "about" section of their website and their letterheads looks dodgy to me.

Once you know what the professional body is you can go there are check that they are really qualified and licensed to practice.

Checking the professional body websites to confirm this is a very good suggestion.

We have come across a few firms purporting to be with a body by either using the word Chartered Accountant on Companies House or using an ACCA logo on their website when they weren’t, so have had to report them to the relevant bodies.

It is about time the term “Accountant” was reserved for certain professional bodies. It would ensure the public knew who went through the qualification process and then obtain the Practising Certificate.

We recently picked up a job from an unqualified accountant who couldn’t provide much in the way of handover info (E.g. no fixed asset register) and was not aware the director of the limited company client had a health benefit (despite writing it in a separate column on her analysis) and had therefore not completed any P11d’s for the last 3/4 years.

Never nice having to inform the new client that the first step is correcting mistakes that should not have been made in the first place by their former unqualified accountant.

 

[MBE2017]

I helped a friend apply today, very simple, very straight forward, decision instant. Name, address, NI number, tax reference, bank account details. £3k on its way to them within six days.

In all honesty, I cannot imagine making the process any easier. Something to congratulate the Government on for a change.

Just a quick update, my friend received the payment this am, Thursday application, payment on Tuesday, excellent service IMO.

 

[Karimbo]

My business makes a small annual profit which is in the £100's.

What a mess, if you're a sole trader you shouldn't be on payroll, the profit left over are your earnings.

The accountant has put you on payroll incorrectly, which has resulted in your SEISS (self employment income support scheme) being rejected. Your self employment income has to be mroe than 50% of your income. Since you're on PAYE for much more than your self emplyment profits (as it has been reported to date), you automatically disqualify from SEISS.

The way the accountant has done it, you would have needed to furlough yourself as a PAYE employee and claim CJRS not claim SEISS.

But as others have alluded, as the owner of your self employed business, you are not supposed to be on payroll.

Tricky spoty.