Does anyone have a good firm of accountants who bill modestly? Or is this a contradictory notion
Thanks
Louise

I asked the Society of Authors for advice on this. I think they have a list available on request.

FWIW I wondered whether to move from my very good general accountant to one of the specialist ones the Society recommends, and came to the conclusion that it would be a bit more expensive, but not much. And as long as you get your stuff in by a given date - 31st Aug in my case - my present accountant does the whole thing including ongoing small advice, for a flat fee, which I don't think the specialists do.

(Having said that, there were a couple of very specialist tax-for-authors points which I knew from a Society of Authors tax seminar, and mentioned to my accountant, and he didn't know about them. He said, very properly, 'No but I can find out', and did, and saved me a fortune. So it can be worth knowing a bit yourself - that seminar was very good.)

Sorry, don't know that that helps very much, really!
Emma

Thanks for this. My current firm were recommended by Society of Authors and have cost me dearly.

Emma, would you be able to recommend your firm to me?

thanks very much

Louise

Louise, I've WWmailed you.

Emma

Oh, sorry to hear that. My suggestion's obviously not so good, then.

my present accountant does the whole thing including ongoing small advice, for a flat fee, which I don't think the specialists do

Mine does this too. I also think she charges quite reasonably. And she was recommended by the Society of Authors. Hmm.

It has to be said that to get the flat fee scheme you have to get it in by a deadline - in my case it's August 31st which seems reasonable and not so different from if you want the revenue to do it, but in my sister's it's something like June 30th. Same firm, so I imagine they're just trying to spread the load out a bit and she's unlucky. Does mean you have lots and lots of time to work out how on earth you're going to pay the tax bill, mind you...

Emma