Legal

1. About us

These terms and conditions govern the provision of accounting and bookkeeping services by Anchor Accounts & Books Ltd (“we”, “us”, “the practice”), a company registered in England and Wales. By engaging our services, you (“the client”) agree to these terms.

2. Our services

We provide bookkeeping, accounting and taxation services to individuals and small businesses. The specific services to be provided will be agreed between us in a written letter of engagement or fee proposal prior to commencement of work.

We are members of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and bound by their ethical and professional standards. Our services are provided in accordance with applicable UK law, HMRC requirements and AAT professional guidelines.

3. Your responsibilities

You agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete and timely information and documentation required for us to carry out the agreed services
• Inform us promptly of any changes to your circumstances that may be relevant to your tax or accounting affairs
• Review and approve all documents and returns before submission to HMRC or Companies House
• Retain copies of all information provided to us and all documents we produce on your behalf
• Pay our fees in accordance with the agreed payment terms

4. Fees and payment

Our fees are agreed in advance and set out in your written fee proposal or letter of engagement. We operate on a fixed-fee basis; we will notify you of any changes to your fee before undertaking additional work outside the original scope.

Invoices are payable within 14 days of the invoice date unless otherwise agreed. Where a monthly payment plan is in place, payments are due on the agreed date each month.

We reserve the right to suspend services in the event of non-payment. We may charge interest on overdue amounts at a rate of 8% per annum above the Bank of England base rate.

5. Confidentiality

We will treat all information you provide as confidential. We will not disclose your information to third parties except as required by law (including HMRC, Companies House and our regulatory body), as necessary to provide the agreed services, or with your explicit consent. Our obligations in this regard are also governed by AAT’s Code of Professional Ethics.

6. Anti-money laundering

As a regulated accountancy practice, we are required by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 to conduct client due diligence. This includes verifying your identity before commencing work. We are required to report suspicions of money laundering or terrorist financing to the relevant authorities without being able to notify you of any such report.

7. Limitation of liability

Our liability to you is limited to direct losses arising from our own negligence or breach of these terms. We are not liable for:

• Losses arising from inaccurate, incomplete or late information provided by you
• Indirect or consequential losses
• Penalties or interest charged by HMRC as a result of information you have provided being incorrect
• Losses caused by events beyond our reasonable control

Our total liability to you in any 12-month period shall not exceed the fees paid by you to us in that period. Nothing in these terms shall limit liability for fraud, death or personal injury caused by our negligence.

8. Termination

Either party may terminate the engagement by giving 30 days’ written notice. You remain responsible for all fees incurred up to the date of termination. On termination, we will provide you with copies of your records and arrange a professional handover to your new accountant, subject to any outstanding fees being settled.

9. Complaints procedure

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please contact us in writing at luke@anchoraccountsandbooks.co.uk. We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days and aim to resolve it within 28 days. If your complaint cannot be resolved, you may refer it to the AAT.

10. Governing law

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.