Whilst one must factor complexity into the equation, the base cost of a SA return assuming one employment seems to be an average of £60 to £80 (thats also what my local chartered practices are charging clients).
But...
If you are also completing property income inserts and self employment pages you need to be thinking of adding to the base cost.
£60 per property seems fair for landlords.
For self employment pages I include those free on the proviso that I am also doing the accounts for the business. A bit like throwing in the P35 as a value added when you do the payroll.
The cost of doing the books of small businesses very much changes from client to client. My start point in estimating cost is always based on the hours that I believe that it will take (plus a percentage) and then I look to see whether that is coming in too cheap and increase it.
If my fee's come in too expensive for the clients turnover then taking on the client would not be worth my time (I know that some look to reduce fee's to fit to the client but that isn't to my mind a good way to go).
HTH,
kind regards,
Shaun.
edited only for spelling
-- Edited by Shamus on Sunday 26th of August 2012 09:35:22 PM
__________________
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.
I thought that you were talking about me for a minute there Mark, lol.
We had a case on the site the other day where another poster thought that the going rate for SA was £300... Which in some specific cases I'm sure could be true where a client has perhaps half a dozen investment properties rented out.
In Davids case I think that he's just looking for what others charge and why to ensure that he's not going in pitching too high... or low.
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
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.
I did a special offer last year to landlords with one property and employment income. I charged £60 per return, I certainly made a bit out of it.
I tend to price my tax returns in a similar way to Ryanair price their seats. If I'm quiet I drop the price a bit, if I'm busy it goes up. With my annual clients I tend to give each a 'special price' at the beginning of the year as long as they get their paperwork to me by a specific date (different for each client) to allow me to evenly spread them over the year.
I would say come December or January you'll want to increase your prices quite a bit though. My average tax return price at this time of year is £150.
You say your average tax return at this time of year is £150. Is that just for the tax return with accounts on top of that or is £150 for accounts and tax return?
That's generally just for the self assessment. Having said that, If the client keeps their own records, they are in a good condition and they are not overly complicated with many adjustments needed I will do the whole lot there or thereabouts.
Yes, of course. For the sole trader that he is I will charge him £250+VAT to do and keep his books too, but for completing just a tax return I will charge £60+VAT.
The reason I have decided these fees are on the grounds it is my first year of doing a tax return and he is my first client.
