Is an accountant needed? Thread poster: Nathalie Suteau (X)
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Nathalie Suteau (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:57
English to French
Hello,
I'm French but based in the UK. For the past two years, I've used an accountant for my tax return but her fee is going up at a tremendous pace. I feel confident enough to fill my tax return on my own but my accountant told me that in this case, my accounts wouldn't be certified which can be a problem to get a mortgage. Is she correct or is she just trying to keep me as a customer?
Thanks a lot!
Nathalie
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:57
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Sounds unpleasant | Jun 3, 2011 |
This sounds to me like an unpleasant accountant !
I used to have an accountant in Italy who charged me a percentage of my income, which I thought was totally unacceptable. The more I made, the more he charged me - even though he was doing exactly the same amount of work. He also wasted an awful lot of my time.
Then I had another bad experience when I moved back to the UK from Italy. I went to an English accountant, who helped me to get set up in the correct way, but wh... See more This sounds to me like an unpleasant accountant !
I used to have an accountant in Italy who charged me a percentage of my income, which I thought was totally unacceptable. The more I made, the more he charged me - even though he was doing exactly the same amount of work. He also wasted an awful lot of my time.
Then I had another bad experience when I moved back to the UK from Italy. I went to an English accountant, who helped me to get set up in the correct way, but who was horribly expensive and not even a particularly likeable person.
He behaved like a machine. He even had a timer, which counted the number of minutes I spent talking to him, and then he billed me for those minutes- every single one ! I had never experienced this before (and I hope never to experience it again).
So after a couple of years I dropped him, and went on doing my own monthly book-keeping and my own tax returns. Then a few years later I needed an accountant again, but this time I found a very likeable, inexpensive one, who I very occasionally consult when I need to.
If you're in London I can give you his name.
Anyway - if you want a mortgage, the lender would probably want to see your income, and if it needs to be certified by an accountant, any accountant could do that for you at the time when you need it. I wouldn't think there's any need to remain with the accountant you have now.
[Edited at 2011-06-03 19:08 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Well, this is against the law (In Italy) | Jun 3, 2011 |
Tom in London wrote:
I used to have an accountant in Italy who charged my a percentage of my income, which I thought was totally unacceptable. The more I made, the more he charged me - even though he was doing exactly the same amount of work. He also wasted an awful lot of my time.
In my knowledge this is absolutely prohibited by law in Italy, did she provide you invoices for that? I do not think so.
I know there are countries in which this is an usual practice among lawyers for example, but in Italy this is not allowed as they have their "Tariffario"
http://www.nemesistemi.it/tariffa_tariffario_legge/Tariffario_Ragionieri_Tariffe_Commercialisti_tariffa_commercialista.asp
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:57
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| That's why.... | Jun 3, 2011 |
Prof. Angie G. wrote:
In my knowledge this is absolutely prohibited by law in Italy
That was one of the reasons why I was glad to get away!
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Nathalie Suteau (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:57
English to French
TOPIC STARTER
Your story about your Italian accountant is both outreageous and, I must admit a little funny!
The first year I worked with my accountant, I had 200 invoices, all in euro. Nowadays, I have 64 invoices, all in £ and she wants to charge me twice more than the first year - my turn-over remains the same but I get bigger and bigger projects, hence less invoices.
I live in Kent, 30 minutes from London, so yes, I'm interested in your accountant. Could you send me his/her emai... See more Your story about your Italian accountant is both outreageous and, I must admit a little funny!
The first year I worked with my accountant, I had 200 invoices, all in euro. Nowadays, I have 64 invoices, all in £ and she wants to charge me twice more than the first year - my turn-over remains the same but I get bigger and bigger projects, hence less invoices.
I live in Kent, 30 minutes from London, so yes, I'm interested in your accountant. Could you send me his/her email by MP.
Thanks a lot and have a nice week-end!
Nathalie ▲ Collapse
| | | | jyuan_us 
United States
Local time: 01:57
Member (2005)
English to Chinese
+ ...
| Accountants and lawyers take control over their clients | Jun 4, 2011 |
We the translators cannot do the same. Sadly enough, this is the reality.
| | | | LEXpert
United States
Local time: 00:57
Member (2008)
Croatian to English
+ ...
| Don't what I'd do without mine | Jun 4, 2011 |
Then again, I'm married to her, so I have to say that!
| | | | Odile Breuvart
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:57
Member
English to French
+ ...
| Can't afford an accountant anyway | Jun 17, 2011 |
I'd rather learn more about accountancy and do my own tax return.
I never understand how a translator can manage and hire an accountant at the same time!
I know it is a lot of work but my income is low, being on a general language pair (English-French) even if my work is of quality, I don't earn enough, I would simply not survive.
(my husband is unemployed with no allowance, we've got one adolescent to look after and we can't afford any pension plan either, so all the 9... See more I'd rather learn more about accountancy and do my own tax return.
I never understand how a translator can manage and hire an accountant at the same time!
I know it is a lot of work but my income is low, being on a general language pair (English-French) even if my work is of quality, I don't earn enough, I would simply not survive.
(my husband is unemployed with no allowance, we've got one adolescent to look after and we can't afford any pension plan either, so all the 9% of my profit go merrily to the tax man, sweeping away any savings I try to raise. If you've got a magic formula tell me! )
[Edited at 2011-06-17 08:54 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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