Terms of Business • Tax Accountant London • Tax Accountant
Terms of Business
These Terms of Business explain the general basis on which Tax Accountant, trading as Tax Accountant London, may provide tax, accounting, compliance and advisory services.
Tax Accountant London is operated under the Tax Accountant brand. Formal correspondence should be sent to the head office: 3 Brindley Place, Birmingham B1 2JB.
About these terms
General terms for tax and accountancy services
These Terms of Business apply to services provided by Tax Accountant, trading as Tax Accountant London, unless a separate written engagement letter or written agreement states otherwise.
They are intended to set out how we work, how services are scoped, how fees are agreed, what we expect from clients and how tax work is handled.
These terms do not create an engagement by themselves. A client relationship starts only when we have accepted the instruction, completed any required onboarding checks and issued or confirmed engagement terms.
Engagement
Work starts only after we accept the instruction.
Before we provide tax, accounting, compliance, disclosure or HMRC support services, we may issue an engagement letter, fee quote or written scope. This confirms the work to be carried out and the terms that apply.
We are not responsible for carrying out work, meeting a deadline or submitting anything to HMRC until the engagement is accepted, onboarding requirements are satisfied and any agreed payment condition has been met.
An engagement may require:
- Accepted engagement letter or written scope
- Client identification and AML checks
- Information and documents requested by us
- Payment of any agreed upfront fee
- HMRC authorisation where we are asked to act with HMRC
- Confirmation of deadlines and tax years involved
Scope of work
We only carry out the work agreed in writing.
Tax and accountancy work can involve different services. The scope may be limited to a tax return, calculation, disclosure, advice note, HMRC response, accounts, VAT, payroll or another specific task.
Fixed scope
Where a fixed fee is agreed, it applies only to the work described in the engagement or quote.
Additional work
Extra work, missing records, HMRC queries, amendments or new issues may require a separate fee.
Client approval
We may ask you to approve calculations, returns, disclosures or letters before submission.
No assumed services
We do not provide ongoing monitoring, tax planning or deadline management unless agreed.
Fees and payment
Fees are agreed before work starts.
We will normally confirm the fee, fee basis or estimated fee before work starts. Fees may be fixed, staged, hourly or based on the specific scope agreed with you.
Unless stated otherwise, quoted fees are exclusive of VAT. VAT will be charged where applicable.
Cancellation and commencement
Professional work may begin shortly after acceptance.
Once an engagement is accepted, we may begin reviewing documents, planning the work, reserving time, preparing schedules, carrying out checks or advising on the matter.
If you cancel after accepting an engagement, you remain responsible for fees for work already carried out, time reserved, administrative work, onboarding checks, review work and any agreed non-refundable or advance payment terms.
Where consumer cancellation rights could apply, any specific position will be addressed in the engagement terms. If you ask us to start work immediately or within a cancellation period, you may still be liable for work performed.
Client responsibilities
You are responsible for providing complete and accurate information.
We rely on the information, documents and explanations provided by you. You remain responsible for the accuracy and completeness of your tax returns, accounts, disclosures and submissions.
AML and identity checks
We must complete onboarding checks where required.
As a professional firm, we may be required to complete anti-money laundering checks, identity checks, proof of address checks, sanctions screening, PEP checks and other due diligence before or during an engagement.
HMRC, deadlines and submissions
Deadlines depend on timely records and approval.
We will make reasonable efforts to work to agreed deadlines, but we cannot guarantee completion where information is late, incomplete, unclear or where HMRC systems, third-party platforms or client approval cause delay.
You remain responsible for ensuring returns, payments, disclosures and responses are made on time unless we have expressly accepted responsibility for a specific deadline in writing.
HMRC work may require:
- HMRC authorisation or agent access
- Government Gateway details or client approval
- Complete income, expense and tax records
- Signed declarations or submission approval
- Time for review, corrections and final checks
- Separate handling of penalties, appeals or enquiries
Advice and reliance
Advice is based on the facts and records provided.
Any advice we provide is based on the information available at the time, the scope agreed and the law or HMRC practice understood at that time. If the facts change, further information becomes available or HMRC guidance changes, the advice may need to be reviewed.
Unless agreed in writing, advice is for the client who instructed us and should not be passed to or relied upon by third parties.
Third parties and software
We may use professional systems and service providers.
We may use tax software, accounting software, cloud storage, email systems, verification providers, booking tools, payment providers and other systems to provide services and manage the practice.
Liability
Our liability is limited to the agreed scope of work.
We are not responsible for losses caused by incomplete records, inaccurate information, late instructions, missed client approvals, HMRC delays, third-party platform failures or matters outside the agreed scope.
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
Termination
Either party may end the engagement in appropriate circumstances.
You may ask us to stop work. We may also stop acting where fees are unpaid, documents are not provided, AML checks are not completed, instructions are unclear, professional duties require us to stop, or the relationship has broken down.
Fees remain payable for work carried out, time spent, disbursements, administrative work and any agreed staged or upfront fee arrangements.
We may stop acting if:
- Required documents are not provided
- Invoices remain unpaid
- AML checks cannot be completed
- Information appears inaccurate or incomplete
- Instructions create professional or legal concerns
- Deadlines cannot reasonably be met
Confidentiality and data
We handle client information confidentially, subject to legal duties.
We treat client information as confidential and use it for the purpose of providing services, managing the engagement, complying with legal obligations and protecting our position.
Confidentiality may be subject to exceptions, including legal obligations, AML reporting duties, HMRC requirements, professional regulation, court orders, insurers, advisers or other lawful requirements.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with our service, raise it in writing.
Complaints should be sent to Tax Accountant at the Birmingham head office or by email. We will review the complaint against the engagement terms, scope, records, communications and work performed.
3 Brindley Place,
Birmingham B1 2JB info@taxaccountant.co.uk View Complaints Procedure
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, these Terms of Business and any engagement with Tax Accountant are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory legal rights that may apply.
Send formal notices to Tax Accountant at head office.
Formal notices, legal correspondence, complaints and data protection requests should be sent to the Birmingham head office, not to the London meeting office.
Birmingham B1 2JB