Accountancy

Self-employment comes under many guises from the sole trader to the partnership or to the limited company. Each is different, each has its benefits and each has its drawbacks.

We have been in business for 30 years and we have seen most everything business has to offer so if you have a problem we are sure that we can overcome it for you.

At AJM we over a complete package for every eventuality.

Whatever your route to self-employment you can be sure that AJM can help with your particular problem.

Our fees are transparent and geared towards a long term relationship.

As accountants it goes without saying that we “deal in accounts and tax” but we also help with forecasts and projections, dealing with banks and lenders and all aspects of planning both for the business and personally.

Bookkeeping and Vat

At AJM all our bookkeeping clients use the same on-line software which costs only £60 for the licence and for a further £40 we can set up the bulk of the software ready for you to start entering your data. Monthly payments of only £20 are required thereafter.

This means that there are no expensive annual upgrade costs and you are always guaranteed to be using the very latest version of the software.

Compare this new on-line system with much more expensive standalone systems which cost £000’s just to buy the software with AJM you can be up and running for £100 with regular monthly payments of £20.

By being on-line you can work on your books wherever you have an internet connection and just as importantly we your accountant can access your records directly via the Internet whenever you have any problems in addition to the software providers own help facilities. This way we can amend your records without the need to provide us with backup copies which we then amend and send back to you to upload after we have made the amendment.

The software will prepare the necessary Vat Return and once again the joy of the on line offering is that we can review the Return prior to submission spotting any problems before they are sent to HMRC.

With AJM future proofing your bookkeeping comes as standard.

Payroll and Paye

At AJM we recognise that employing staff is a major headache for a small business and that larger businesses have different but equally worrisome concerns.

That’s why at AJM we provide payroll for businesses with one employee as well as businesses with hundreds of employees.

We undertake not only to provide payslips and details of paye due but also to calculate SSP, SMP, SPP and to record and maintain all the necessary entries.

At the end of the payroll year we will supply all forms P60 and complete and e-file the necessary annual form P35 for every payroll client.

Payroll calculations are only a part of employing staff and at AJM out qualified staff are on hand to deal with worries concerning Staff Sickness issues and all questions concerning Discipline, Redundancy and Sackings. We can always assist in the provision of Contracts of Employment for new employees.

With costs ranging from only £20 per month we at AJM take all the worry out of employing staff.

Tax Advice

From completing and lodging Personal Tax Returns to vat problems to handling complex tax investigation cases the partners and staff at AJM have dealt with it before.

We bring a wealth of experience to all our client’s tax affairs.

We simply don’t see ourselves as “number crunchers” who simply process whatever is presented before us and view the job as done as soon as the tax due has been established.

It may sound a cliché to say that “every client counts” but it is a fact with AJM.

No one client no matter how small is viewed and completed by one person. All levels of staff are utilised on EVERY client and we believe that if there is a chance of reducing tax OR increasing profits our system of preparation and review will find it.

Dealing with tax advice is second nature to us whenever we handle a client’s accounts we focus not only on the business but also the individuals and their families that work/run the business.

We hope that we will offer advice before you even know it is needed.

Business Start-Ups

Starting a new business is one of the most important decisions anyone can have to make.

The government make it even more difficult with a welter of legislation and rules backed up by the prospect of FINES and PENALTIES for getting something wrong or being late in dealing with certain issues.

At AJM we understand this and we recognise that every start-up is different and that every owner has different abilities.

Our initial interview usually 2 hours long is TOTALLY FREE and gives us the chance to talk freely about the proposed business and the different choices available for instance whether to operate as a simple sole trader or possibly as a Limited Company.

Once all the start up decisions have been fully discussed and decided upon we can for a simple one off charge of £100 ensure that all necessary registrations have made such as registering as self-employed and notifying the liability to pay self-employed national insurance and vat registration to name just a few. All of which will be fully explained.

Our online bookkeeping service will ensure that all necessary records are maintained (See Bookkeeping and Vat section for full details) and our Payroll section details how we can help with employing staff.

If in the rarest of occasions the online system is not appropriate then as part of our set up charge we will set up manual records or discuss the possibility of using spreadsheets.

Starting in business is a tough decision to make appointing AJM as your Accountant is not so tough.

Tax Investigations

Anyone who had had to suffer a Tax Investigations knows how protracted and worrisome the whole issue is with HMRC seeming to take the stance that every business has to prove their innocence rather they having to prove the business has acted in such a way as to not pay the correct tax.

Do not be taken in by the change of the word “Investigation” to “Enquiries” by HMRC. “Enquiries” may sound gentler and far less threatening than “Investigations” but an Investigation is what is being undertaken and all businesses should devise their recordkeeping with this in mind.

HMRC don’t even need a reason to start an investigation and they never divulge why the investigation has started or just what is worrying them, which frankly does them no credit.

HMRC have major new powers and have spent enormous amounts on retraining staff in these new powers so no wonder a full investigation is a major source of revenue to them no matter that it costs the taxpayer money to defend themselves against unspecified allegations.

At AJM we offer all our clients the option to subscribe to a fee protection plan which will cover all the costs of defending our clients against HMRC because win, lose or draw a taxpayer is unable to claim costs against HMRC even if as a result of their investigations NOTHING IRREGULAR is found.

The AJM fee protection scheme puts you the client on the same financial footing as HMRC. This means that escalating costs will never become a reason to broker a compromise with HMRC.

Our senior partners Tony Margaritelli has been involved in many investigations and will ensure that you fully understand what is going on, will always act in your best interests and will make sure that HMRC act appropriately and you will always be accompanied in any interview.

At AJM we stand by you throughout the investigation and “stay with it” to its conclusion.

Property Tax

Renting property can be either geared towards to low or small profits with the aim being a gain on the ultimate sale or as pension planning.

Whatever the reasons for owning and renting property AJM have the expertise to establish the income tax on the rents and the possibility of capital gains tax on the ultimate disposal.

We have a simple charging regime for all landlords which is £150 per property. This will cover the cost of the accounts and tax return and will incorporate advice on record keeping and tax planning.

Being a landlord can be a problem but with AJM the tax side of things will not.

Self-Assessment

All AJM clients will have their self-assessment Income Tax Returns completed and e-filed by us as part of our normal practice.

Anyone receiving a notice to complete a tax return must do so before the filing deadline to avoid being charged a penalty.

If you receive a notice which may be because you are a higher rate taxpayer or have some rental income or receive some benefits in kind from your employer and you are keen to avoid completing the return yourself then simply get in touch on 01708-437917. After a small chat we will be able to tell you the fee for completing the Return based on your particular circumstances and also what information is required to enable us to do so.

Simple as that.