Six days..... - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

BudgetB · Guru

Six days.....

Ann-marie · Senior Member

Hi there,

Yeah i'm feeling stressed too - Pleased I'm not the only one - can't for February to come round - I'm actually looking forward to it being a quieter month!

Well I guess we need to just power through and we will get there in the end!

Ann-marie :)

gbm · Guru

Jenny, you are showing off! I have considerably more, but have reached the 'f**k it' point. I have a plan for this week, there are some clients who I have asked for their stuff on numerous occassions who are not on the list (and may not be clients for much longer).

I'm sure, like a lot of people on here, I will bend over backwards for clients if I can, but not everyone responds!

RSBookkeeping · Veteran Member

It annoys me when people want everything doing at the last minute, you bend over backwards to help them yet they don't return call's, give the required info etc...
That's life I guess!

BudgetB · Guru

Well yes you can only ask so many times and if they still can't get themselves organised then they have to accept that you can't perform miracles!!

karenb · Veteran Member

I've got major issue with one client - who also happens to be a friend, lost copy of P60 been trying desperately to get another copy still no joy! So far I have been quite relaxed but when do I say enough is enough I really don't want to be burning the midnight oil on 31 Jan but find it really hard to say no!

Marky65 · Guru

Hi Karen

It is very difficult to say when you should say enough is enough as each of us have our own different levels of tolerance and ability to deal with things. But what I would say is do not push yourself too hard as you will only pay for it in the long run (I am speaking from current first hand experience). It is your clients responsibilty to get the paperwork to you.
Take a look at the work you have got now, see how long will that take to complete, and make sure that you stop taking in new work before you get to the point of having to work late on Monday. I know that none of us want to turn work away but your regular clients will not thank you if you are not fully fit to carry out their regular work

Regards

Mark

gbm · Guru

Hi Karen,

I think you could staple tenners to P60's and they would still get lost!

If they cannot get the P60 in time, you could try looking at the last payslip in March, which should have the cumulative gross pay and tax deducted.

No payslip? How about bank statements. It may be arduous, but if you know the net, it is sometimes possible to reconstruct the gross.

No bank statements? Oh dear! It makes it worse if it's a friend, it's harder to sack them/charge them extra.

If you need a hand, DM me.

gbm · Guru

BTW, re my earlier (rather flippant) comments - sent last emails out to lingerers today - got a reply and the info back for one client who wasn't on the 'will get done' list - due a tax refund for £3,400!

That dull thudding sound you can hear is me banging my head against the wall...

BudgetB · Guru

It depends Karen, if it's just that one client and you've done everything else, and all you need to do is add the P60 to the online form and hit send then personally I'd be prepared to accept it up to 4pm on Monday.

But if you also have 5 other clients at this point who also have outstanding info and are quite likely to magically be able to provide it all on Monday then you have to make it clear to all of them that the returns will be done on a first come first served basis during normal working hours and anything not done will incur a fine and perhaps in this coming year they should consider getting their finger out sooner!

This year I've been quite lax about letting people get their info in (stupidly), previously we had a cut off of 18th December after which you could bring your paperwork in and it was done in order of receipt with no guarantee of it being done on time, which was put in writing to each client.

BC Boy · Veteran Member

Hi Karen,
Not sure is this will help or if the errant P60 has been found but on a number of payroll programmes the final payslip of the year will contain the required information. Hope that this helps
Lewis

I really should read the entire thread! Then I might see the answer had already been given - D'oh!!

-- Edited by BC Boy on Wednesday 26th of January 2011 01:51:46 PM

-- Edited by BC Boy on Wednesday 26th of January 2011 01:52:29 PM

-- Edited by BC Boy on Wednesday 26th of January 2011 01:54:58 PM

BudgetB · Guru

BC Boy wrote:

Hi Karen,
Not sure is this will help or if the errant P60 has been found but on a number of payroll programmes the final payslip of the year will contain the required information. Hope that this helps
Lewis

-- Edited by BC Boy on Wednesday 26th of January 2011 01:51:46 PM

-- Edited by BC Boy on Wednesday 26th of January 2011 01:52:29 PM

Problem is you wont have the employers PAYE ref, or the amount of student loan deductions if applicable.

BC Boy · Veteran Member

getting the e'er PAYE ref should be relatively easy, dont have any student load ded's at the client that I am at but could extrapolte from final payslip if there has been no salary change during the year and the SL dedustion has been going all year

BudgetB · Guru

Ifs and should bes! biggrin

karenb · Veteran Member

thanks for all your replies & offers of help - its a part time job (to top up her self employment) and is very seasonal so no regular payslips to go by & it doesn't warrant my time going through personal bank statements to try and reconcile it - will just drum my fingers a bit longer, but I think Monday lunchtime I am going to have to say can't do it. Only just got her VAT bits today and that also needs to be completed and submitted by 31st - why do we do this to ourselves:)

Amber690 · Member

I'm not too bad this year, I usually work up until midnight on the 31st, lol! Still got two to do but confident it can be done.

HendyPhilhendy · Guru

Best thing is in fact to put the gross in if you know what it is, possibly an estimate of the tax paid or not declare any as paid at source. If you make a note that it is an estimate HMRC should pick it up and adjust the tax at source for you.

ADAS · Guru

gbm wrote:

That dull thudding sound you can hear is me banging my head against the wall...

Made me chuckle biggrin

BudgetB · Guru

It's D-Day! biggrin

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

And my internet link keeps disconnecting itself!

Of all the days it has to be today....

BudgetB · Guru

The HMRC site seems to be struggling now. Was ok earlier.

Amanda · Expert

I was on the HMRC website at about 9.30 and it was OK. Mind you I had done most of my return last night just had to submit it so wasn't too bad.

PS - Hi Shaun, nice to see you back on here.

-- Edited by Amanda on Monday 31st of January 2011 11:54:20 AM

BudgetB · Guru

I feel a phone call to online services coming on. One persons tax return seems to be stuck in the system.

Merlion ABS · Senior Member

The problem with doing tax returns late is that your clients will get the impression its OK to do it again next year.

One of the ways I combat this is when the first letter goes out in April requesting the info, state on the letter that if they get the info to you by a certain date (say 31st July) you will offer a discount of say 10%. If info is received after say 30th November, state that it maybe not done on time and the you will have to add a 10% surcharge or what ever % you want.

This soon gets them into gear!

Good luck to all on getting them done. I myself have 1 left which came out of the blue. unfortunately this client stated he started trading on the 1st April 2010 and although normally a Tax Return wouldn't be required, it has flagged one up, so now he has to locate his old employment P60/P45 etc.. and I have to do accounts for a short period.

fortunately he will be due a refund as he rec'd no self employment income in the 5 days to 5th April and its all start up expenses.

BudgetB · Guru

I'm all done now, well apart from the 4 that got pushed back to Feb due to missing UTRs, but do quite like the end of year surcharge idea!

I've even remembered to do my own!