Can I sue my accountant who left me with a 80k tax bill? I am a self employed plumber?
United Kingdom - 6 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
You certainly can if he was at fault.
Answer 2 :
yes if he/she acted negligently and did not do a proper job but most accountants and also HMRC would rely on you to sign of the returns so its catch 22 they will most likely turn it on you
Answer 3 :
Only if he did something wrong! If you actually do owe the money then he isn't at fault.
Answer 4 :
Not if you actually owe the tax - if he's made an error you can ask the tax office to re-assess first then perhaps you may have a case for damages
Answer 5 :
It depends on whether he has performed negligently - that is if he has not acted in a way a reasonable accountant would. That standard would be greater if he is professionally qualified (eg as a Chartered or Certified Accountant). What you do not say is why you have a 80k tax bill. If it is tax that is properly due, and there is no reasonable way you could have avoided that tax, then the accountant is not at fault and you have no case. If it is because he failed to advise you to make a tax election, say, that he should have been aware would have been beneficial to you, then you can. If you can provide more information as to how the tax bill arose, and why it might have been lower but for some negligence on the part of your accountant, then we may be able to offer you a more detailed answer.
Answer 6 :
It all depends! A professional adviser has a duty of care. If he/she has been negligent then yes, there would be a prima facie case to sue for compensation. It depends on what you hired the Accountant to do. You should look at the engagement letter which he should have given you when he started working for you.
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