To think accountancy isn't a "keyworker" job?

[hannabull]

One of the parents at school is a self employed accountant who works from home, but sending kids into school. The other parent works out of the home (not a key worker) how is this allowed? Claims to be an essential worker (doesn't work for the nhs or anything, just accounts for small businesses)

@ceeveebee you are correct but you are going to be typing that out all night for the posters who haven’t RTFT and do a google link for financial services.

It looks as if schools should reopen as I can’t think of any jobs that wouldn’t be considered important to the economy if justified in the way that some have been on this thread. Some schools are reported as being 75% full today.

I don't agree for all accountants no, but there are many exceptions as with all jobs

On an unrelated note I thought VAT was real time reported now? Are quarterly returns still being done?
Feel free to ignore if it’s deviating too much.

its not about whether the jobs are important though, it's whether you can manage to WFH and homeschool young children really. There are so many workers who can't for a number of reasons. I just don't feel we should judge them. Those who are taking the piss, judge away!

What will happen if all his clients don't file their tax return by end of Jan?

Btw does everyone know that key worker doesn't mean "Job can't be done from home"? I keep seeing people say that someone isn't a key worker because they can't work from home.
It means they are key to delivering the critical services that can't stop during a pandemic. Infrastructure, medical, finances, essential retail and food production, waste disposal etc .... and in those industries there will be jobs like HR and payroll and admin that are still critical to the continuity of those services.

@BilboBercow

Btw does everyone know that key worker doesn't mean "Job can't be done from home"? I keep seeing people say that someone isn't a key worker because they can't work from home. It means they are key to delivering the critical services that can't stop during a pandemic. Infrastructure, medical, finances, essential retail and food production, waste disposal etc .... and in those industries there will be jobs like HR and payroll and admin that are still critical to the continuity of those services.

Yes, and it's those who ARE key workers. The accountants and payrollers etc who aren't in those industries are NOT.

Even now I can't get over people leaving it till the last possible minute to file their tax return. Why? Just why?

They deserve the £100 fine if late.

Yes Quarterly VAT returns are still being done.

@Inthelab

On an unrelated note I thought VAT was real time reported now? Are quarterly returns still being done? Feel free to ignore if it’s deviating too much.

No, it's still reported quarterly, or monthly, just by computer software now instead of paper or the HMRC portal.

@ceeveebee

Accountants are not part of financial services

The department for education confirmed that payroll professionals would be classed as key workers.

"The advice provided was that payroll roles would fit squarely within the category of “utilities, communications and financial services”, and there was no doubt that a payroller would be deemed a key worker."

www.cipp.org.uk/resources/news/payroll-key-workers.html

Many accountants, especially "one man bands" working from home WILL be doing plenty of payrolls for their typical small business client base.

I don’t agree with her sending children into school. If she can work from home then she can have her children at home with her. Most others are in the same boat. A bit cheeky if you ask me. Nothing stopping her from doing it in the evenings or weekends either is there?
School places should be for those who are actually out of the house to do their job.

I think that’s the third identical post on that subject from you @Kazzyhoward.

Payroll professionals are not the same as accountants.

Has anyone been able to find a note from icaew or acca that confirms accountants are critical workers? No? Wonder why that is?

@Oblomov20

Even now I can't get over people leaving it till the last possible minute to file their tax return. Why? Just why?

They deserve the £100 fine if late.

Yep, don't understand it either. Is it wrong that I take joy in those last minute phones calls informing them they owe £7000 in 5 hours time 😉

Many people will be able to look at the guidelines and work out a way that they could be on the list.

It’s not as simple as saying a particular profession is or isn’t included.

I don’t envy the teachers who are again having to enforce rules that have nothing to do with teaching.

@ceeveebee

I think that’s the third identical post on that subject from you *@Kazzyhoward*.

Payroll professionals are not the same as accountants.

Has anyone been able to find a note from icaew or acca that confirms accountants are critical workers? No? Wonder why that is?

Accountants who do payrolls ARE the same as payroll professionals though aren't they? They do exactly the same job.

@Hotelhelp

Has extending the deadline been discussed at all?

Yes, before Christmas. Hmrc rejected the idea

@Oblomov20 @Kazzyhoward thank you

@Verrucapepper

WTAF? Seriously, how do some people survive in the real world? Of course it’s like the busiest time of the year for accountants! They support so many businesses that support so many families.

This!

I work in an accountants office in the tax department and can't work from home. Every January is busy but finding this one even more so as many clients are needing much more support than normal.

Without tax, the nhs etc would collapse. People have such blinkered views on what is key workers (different from critical front line workers). Many have said it should only be nhs that qualify, but in reality the nhs doesn't survive in a vacuum. How do many staff get to the hospital they work in? Yes, public transport. Surely that them makes public transport pretty essential? How does food etc get into the hospital? How do staff get paid? How does the nhs get the money to pay staff?

Many people have pointed out that this is the issue with closing schools - people work. And without these workers society starts to collapse.

I don't think anyone who can work from home (whatever the job) should be sending their children in using the key worker places.

I say that as someone on the key worker list (the far far too long key worker list)

@BlairWaldorfLovesShopping

christinarossetti19 people aren't all that organised - simple as that. Accountants can ask their clients to provide info early, and offer a discount for doing so, but there will always be a large number of people who don't care about paying a premium to have it done at the last minute.

Yep!

Although for us it's been an odd year in that some very traditional January filers have been very organised, and others who traditionally lodge much earlier in the year are the stragglers this year.

Add in that if you have a limited company, you might have a year ending post April but need the accounts doing before the personal return for dividends.

The other thing that has taken a lot of time this year is looking at payments on account as lots of them need to be reduced

@tigger and that is why those who work in public transport and food production/retail are specifically included in the key worker definition.

Accountants are not.

Those who run payrolls for essential services should also be included IF they can't do that work flexibly around their childcare needs.

I'm a bit boggled that payroll professionals (which, yes, would include accountants who run payroll, like me) are supposedly all unable to work from home or flexibly.

A huge number of them will be working remotely (from their clients), using cloud software and don't have 100% of their clients as "critical to the coronavirus response".

Accountants in non critical industries should not be taking up keyworker places at the expense of key workers in critical industries.

@ceeveebee

HMRC has said that they will not fine late tax returns if there is a reasonable excuse due to the disruption caused by the pandemic And companies house has given an automatic extension of 3 months for all companies with accounts due before April 2021 Hth

Yes they have said that, but the reality is Hmrc have been very tough this year on appeals so don't anticipate it being that simple.

Have had to really battle to get penalties appealed in the last 6 months as Hmrc don't want to allow them. Much better to
Avoid them in the first place if possible.

Haven't read the whole thread, so apologies if someone has already noted this but, according to the government, people who work in financial services are key workers (a full list is available if you google it). It's allowed because the government says children can attend school if one parent is a key worker.

😂😂