Dodgy Accountant made Insolvent Help

[shookshiver]

I found an accountant within days of being awarded a contract 4 years ago. My accountants are rather simple and not to unsimilar to most IT contractors.

Long story short this accountant was giving me headaches and costing me in fines especially in late vat submissions. I also had to scrutinise the shoddy end of tax submissions as it's preparation was "odd". I spoke to a freiend, an accountant who went over the details and was worried. Anyway I spoke to my accountant and got him to make the necessary changes which he did 😶

However when RTI came around I got the willies and decided to find a new accountant. Problem is that he refused to release my accountants to prospective accountant. His practice then promised that they will sort the RTI out which they did. I was fined. But the last straw that broke my back was when I moved and requested to change my address on vat, company etc. They took payment from me and did nothing. My letters were still going to old address. I then jumped ship and got my self a new accountant.

The new accountant looks at accountants the the old accountant did and said effectively he messed up by declaring things I had no entitlement for. I'm all for reducing tax but his was a piece cake. I my accountant spotted the flaws but I did not

The old accountant refused to release my accountants to nee accountant. My phone calls were dropped and emails ignored.

However I found that his company has been liquidated and his clients are screwed because he messed up their accounts

I spoke to be liquidator a gov employee who said in VM that I should forward my email and name.so that they would.put me on a very long list of clients he screwed.

Advice. Will the liquidators open up enquiries on those clients the accountant screwed up? Th liquidator did say the accountant has not and will not forward any details of his clients to them.

I foolishly gave them my mobile number and last name.

Any advice?cause I'm a little worried that hmrc might issue discoveries on his former clients

[Forgotmylogin]

I would try switching to some human accountants.
Were the original ones terriers? This may explain why they were reluctant to release your accounts when you wanted to move.
What they, and you, need to understand is that those are your accounts - they have no legal right to refuse to release them. You need to smack them on the nose with a rolled up newspaper.

[northernladuk]

Erm.. Wouldn't your new accountant be the best people to advise you on this situation? They will know how HMRC handle these things, chances of getting investigated and how lenient HMRC will be. They will also be able to advise how much needs to be paid back and how?

I hope you've gone for one of the bigger specialised firms that are mentioned regularly on here.

[LondonManc]

Doggy you say?
Willies you say?

Sounds like you're being shafted.

What's your ultimate question, that you want to know how you can get hold of your old accounts so that the new accountant can unravel the mess?

Sounds like you could do with a solicitor's advice too, if you feel that you've been paying too many late fees (unless old accountant has been paying them on time and trousering the "fines").

[psychocandy]

Doggy as in dogs or Doggy as in liked a big of dogging?

[LondonManc]

Doggy as in dogs or Doggy as in liked a big of dogging?

Well done on pulling someone up for a spelling mistake.

[VillageContractor]

I found an accountant within days of being awarded a contract 4 years ago. My accountants are rather simple and not to unsimilar to most IT contractors.

Long story short this accountant was giving me headaches and costing me in fines especially in late vat submissions. I also had to scrutinise the shoddy end of tax submissions as it's preparation was "odd". I spoke to a freiend, an accountant who went over the details and was worried. Anyway I spoke to my accountant and got him to make the necessary changes which he did 😶

However when RTI came around I got the willies and decided to find a new accountant. Problem is that he refused to release my accountants to prospective accountant. His practice then promised that they will sort the RTI out which they did. I was fined. But the last straw that broke my back was when I moved and requested to change my address on vat, company etc. They took payment from me and did nothing. My letters were still going to old address. I then jumped ship and got my self a new accountant.

The new accountant looks at accountants the the old accountant did and said effectively he messed up by declaring things I had no entitlement for. I'm all for reducing tax but his was a piece cake. I my accountant spotted the flaws but I did not

The old accountant refused to release my accountants to nee accountant. My phone calls were dropped and emails ignored.

However I found that his company has been liquidated and his clients are screwed because he messed up their accounts

I spoke to be liquidator a gov employee who said in VM that I should forward my email and name.so that they would.put me on a very long list of clients he screwed.

Advice. Will the liquidators open up enquiries on those clients the accountant screwed up? Th liquidator did say the accountant has not and will not forward any details of his clients to them.

I foolishly gave them my mobile number and last name.

Any advice?cause I'm a little worried that hmrc might issue discoveries on his former clients

Accountant != Accounts

[LondonManc]

The new accountant looks at accountants the the old accountant did and said effectively he messed up by declaring things I had no entitlement for. I'm all for reducing tax but his was a piece cake. I my accountant spotted the flaws but I did not

The old accountant refused to release my accountants to nee accountant. My phone calls were dropped and emails ignored.

Reading that paragraph again, how did the new accountant review the old accountant's accounts without the old accountant releasing them?

[SueEllen]

Reading that paragraph again, how did the new accountant review the old accountant's accounts without the old accountant releasing them?

The OP is obviously panicking.

When you change accountants you give them the records you have yourself. Good accountants then send either you or them the additional records they hold on you.

This is what the OP crook of an accountant has refused to do. The simple reason for the refusal is that the crook accountant had everything in a mess so doesn't have anything to send.

Also I've been contacted by liquidators of companies before when I've worked or contracted at that company for years back. Simply because some organisations are dodgy and claim you are still doing work for them to make themselves look better and others are disorganised.

[shookshiver]

The OP is obviously panicking.

When you change accountants you give them the records you have yourself. Good accountants then send either you or them the additional records they hold on you.

This is what the OP crook of an accountant has refused to do. The simple reason for the refusal is that the crook accountant had everything in a mess so doesn't have anything to send.

Also I've been contacted by liquidators of companies before when I've worked or contracted at that company for years back. Simply because some organisations are dodgy and claim you are still doing work for them to make themselves look better and others are disorganised.

Doggy = dodgy

Your spot on - i actually told his understudies to keep their books spot on because they were relying on emails as their knowledge of there client - oh well im partly to blame. i should have left after the first financial year or at least when i was fined for late submission of RTI -

Should i name the practice???