I am a Bookkeeper looking to partner up with an Accountant for filing Tax Returns etc. Can an Accountant based outside the UK File tax returns / accounts for UK based companies and directors?
Would the client know that their accounts are being prepared outside of the UK?
Does the client believe that you are the accountant?
Does the accountant understand UKGAAP and tax legislation as well as indigenous accountants?
In the event of an investigation HMRC would only have you to go to. would you be comfortable representing the filing of a third party?
In the event of issues if you are representing yourself as the accountant to the client then you will be sued under UK law but the accountant who you will then be able to sue will be bound by the laws of their country, not ours.
If you are telling the client that their accounts will be processed off shore will the client simply go to another accountant / bookkeeper? (I would).
The bulk of the questions to ask yourself are not whether you could but whether you should espechially when there are so many good quality reasonably priced UK based accountants who do work under UK GAAP and tax legislation.
kind regards,
Shaun.
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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.
