STRESS!

System
System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 9 in General accounting discussion
Is it normal to have clients who expect you to get their VAT in on time, even though they are still sending you the information you need well past the VAT deadline? I have only been doing this for a year but have had far too many sleepless nights! I feel as if I am stressing whilst my clients are having a sound nights sleep.

I know that there is some of this expectable with the job, but I am wondering I am doing something wrong! Surely this is not what its all about????!!! Or am I normal??!!

:?:

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    Hi Edcav,

    Our practice has clients like this all the time. It isn't just VAT - when you get to 31 January speak to me, Claudia Lowe, Sheelagh, Sue, Annette and loads of the MIPs and they'll all tell you how bad it can be.

    The fact is that we are their agents. They know when the deadline is for VAT, tax etc and it is THEIR responsibility to get the information to us in good time to enable us to complete the returns. If they appear a week after the deadline then it's their problem.

    Don't have sleepless nights. As long as you've written to them, informing them that their deadline is approaching then it is up to them to get the information to you ON TIME. If they don't there is no recourse on you.

    Best regards
    Steve
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    Hi Edvac

    A lot of clients need hand holding with organising their paperwork. I know it can be annoying chasing round after them, but I find it's better to keep chasing them than leaving them to organise everything in their own time, if they were capable of organising themselves, we probably wouldnt have jobs!!!

    I know in one sense it is a waste of my time, but I've got some clients that I give them a time and day and go to collect their books. I usually try and work it round when I'm going to be near to them so I'm not going completely out of my way.

    If your clients are too far away from you how about looking at prices for couriers, that way you can arrange a day for the clients books to be collected, just make sure you give your clients plenty of notice.

    Like Steve says if you've written to your clients you've made it clear to them it is their responsiblity to make sure the books are with you on time. Some Accountants I know write to their clients anytime after September and say if the books aren't with them by a certain date, they can't guarantee to file their Tax Return on time. You always get the clients that leave everything to the last minute, partly because they want to delay paying the Accountant!!

    You'll probably find Accountants are amongst the worse for filing their VAT returns and Tax Returns, how many of us leave ours to the very last????

    Sue
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    Hi
    I agree with sue here. Make sure your engagement letter states that unless paperwork is provided by a certain date you cannot guarentee to complete the work on time, but clients often appreciate a phone call reminding them of the deadline well in advance and try to arrange a time to get the information. I've got one client who left his previous accountant not because of high fees or sloppy work, but because they didn't 'look after him'! That's something that we can usually do better than a big firm of accountants, so I guess it just comes with the job. It's annoying and frustrating at times, but it's what clients appreciate and will pay for.
    Touch wood I've never been late filing a VAT return yet, but there have been some pretty close scrapes!
    Also, remember that you can normally adjust for errors/ommissions on the following return, so don't let the client delay giving you the bulk of the information if they're missing a few little receipts, just say that you'll claim them on the next return.
    Hope it gets better for you
    jodie
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    Don't let it worry you!

    I used to get stressed each month as deadlines approach but if you make it clear to your clients that you need the information by a certain date then once that date has passed the responsibility lies firmly in your clients hands.

    I have one client currently that still hasn't sent me the information for his Feb 07 VAT return!

    I know it's his fault, he knows it's his fault so no stress for me.

    :wink:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    I used to worry about my clients and their deadlines too, but now I just ask for all the information, inform them of deadlines and just sit back and wait. They aren't stressing, so why should we!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    I used to stress it about - no more - I phone all my clients at the beginning of the month, and tell them when I want their VAT by (knowing your client helps - no point asking the useless ones for their's by the 5th!!) and plan my work around it - if time gets tight, tell them.

    Claudia

    PS - still waiting for client's books to do their tax return - mmmmm only 4 months late so far!!

  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    Thanks to you all for the comforting words! I know I am not alone and will certainly take the advice on board. :P
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    We send all clients a letter in may advising them that the accounts have to be completed by september 30 if thet are claiming WFTC. If the accounts aren't done, they lose their money. This seems to prompt them into action. I then ring the laggers up in august to chase them. This last xmas was the first time my practice had no late accounts to do for January year end. It was absolutely......boring
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    Just to add to everybodies stress, I've just received a tax credits annual declaration and they are wanting the returns in by 31 July now, that's another two months they've pinched off us :evil:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,537 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:STRESS!

    yeah, i noticed that too - when i wrote to my clients in april i mentioned that i'd need their info by 31 July if they claimed CTC - I'm going to be having a very busy 31 July now!! :roll:

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