I need to submit some Limited Company accounts to Companies House by close of business tomorrow. They have been completed for around a month but the client has extended they holiday in Portugal to see his extended family after a member of the family died.
In the age of online filing, it is not a big problem but I do not hold any signed documents from the client although he has sent an email approving everything for submission to Companies House and HMRC.
Does this sound ok or should I always get signed copies too, maybe i'm being pedantic but it just dosen't feel right.
Without a signiture it is as though you are responsible for the accounts which of course is not the case.
The accounts are solely the responsibility of the client management which of course is why we get a signed copy for our records.
To act for their company in their absence is an advocacy threat to your perceived independance of the company.
HOWEVER....
In this instance the case is a legitimate emergency and you have an email from the client approving the accounts in their absence. You should print that and keep it in the clients permanent file until they are able to sign the accounts.
My belief is that in this instance you have been approved by the client to file the accounts in their absence. (I assume that you also have evidence that they have seen the accounts rather than a blanket approval?).
Worth getting other peoples feel on this as strictly speaking you should have the signed accounts prior to filing but as you've taken every step possible and the scenario is a special case then my feel is that it would be acceptable for this year.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
