The log in info from the previous accountant would give you access to all their clients, as we have one account, with all our clients "under the umbrella". The old accountant's authorisation gets dumped when your goes on.
I have an agent code for each field - SA, PAYE, CT and VAT - and this goes on the 64-8 to identify me to HMRC. You can apply for these online. This also allows you to do the 64-8 online. Here, you just put in some references, dependent on which field you are applying for agent as, and they send a code out to the client, who passes that to you. You enter it, et voila.
I'm just wondering what steps one would have to take to act as an agent for a client who is changing bookkeepers/accountants and has already authorised the old bookkeeper/accountant to be their agent.
I know that first one would have to register as an agent, i know about the client filling in form 64-8 authorising the new bookkeeper/accountant to act as agent.
Is this all there is to it (apart from the usual, contacting the previous bookkeeper/accountant to find out if there is any reason not to take on the client)
Would one need to receive any log in info of the clients from the previous bookkeeper/accountant?
There are probably a few more steps to this. I'm just interested in how you go about setting up new clients that have left a previous bookkeeper/accountant.
It's the same again, i've tried to get my head around this while studying Tax, but someone at HMRC seems to have left the window open and the wind has
I am reading this myself Neil, as I wanted to find you the link to apply for the codes online. I applied for my Agent codes last summer, and I dont recall writing a letter to HMRC.. I am sure I set it up through online services. I will keep looking for you.
Signing up for HMRC Online Services for agents Before you can use HMRC Online Services for Agents, you'll need to register for HMRC Online Services - and then enrol for each service you want to use. For example, if you are handling Self Assessment and PAYE for employers issues for your clients, you need to enrol for both the Self Assessment and PAYE for Agents online services.
Plus its one of the more joined up areas of HMRC where they do seem to have gotton their act together.
There is a bit of generating codes in order to generate codes, some authorisations will authorise more than one of the services and I think that it was the VAT one that left me scratching my head for a while but I assume that they will have improved the interface on that one by now.
No reason that once you have a agent logon you should not authorise yourself for everything so that when you need to use the service you don't have to wait for the gateway code to arrive in the post.
Also ensure that you sign up for the free agent newsletter which is pretty useful (I vaguelly recollect that I had to tick some box but maybe thats automatic for all agents as well now?).
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.
This is just something i am curious about. I've had a good look around the HMRC site and think i've got the process sussed. The thing that probably threw me is that it seems quite a simple task and therefore i thought i was missing something.
