Has client confidentiality been breached?

[EveryonesMother]

(Back info). I run a small holiday business from a rented property. I am sole proprietor. No employees although i do have hired help who invoice me.
My partner owns and runs a larger business with his son. They have approx 35 employees.
The property I run my business from is in my partners son and daughters name but is annexed to our home. This was done for inheritance tax avoidance. I pay them a peppercorn rent so all is legal.
We have the same accountant for both businesses, who is a personal friend of theirs.

My partner returned from an accountant meeting re his business and informed me they had discussed my business.
I was informed that due to new tax rules my landlord (S@D) is now responsible for paying my tax? (AS IF)
And that his D will set up an an account for my business income to be paid into. She will give me a CC/Cheque book to use, I will get a management fee and any monies left at year end after they have paid the tax.

In my mind this is practically taking my business away from me in all but name and I become an employee?

I am sat here thinking I am being stitched up for some reason. His business is going through a troubled patch, redundancies have been made etc.

Im pretty livid that it has been discussed and decisions made behind my back without consultation or authority.
Im sure there is a code of conduct for accountants and client confidentiality and this has been broken
I have arranged my own meeting with him eto discuss but AIBU?

My partner returned from an accountant meeting re his business and informed me they had discussed my business.
I was informed that due to new tax rules my landlord (S@D) is now responsible for paying my tax? (AS IF)
And that his D will set up an an account for my business income to be paid into. She will give me a CC/Cheque book to use, I will get a management fee and any monies left at year end after they have paid the tax.

This sounds like horseshit of the highest nature. Are they serious suggesting that all landlords of all businesses are doing this? So the shopping mall is setting up bank accounts for all the shops to pay their takings into? Yeah right. Your partner and his DC are up to something so you're very right to be wary. Get your own financial/legal advice and don't be steamrollered into their scheming.

Make an appointment with a different accountant and your own solicitor if necessary. Protect your own interests.

That sounds highly dodgy to me. I’d be changing accountants and seeking independent legal and financial advice. Assuming both businesses are entirely independent of each other then yes I’d question client confidentiality.

Get independent advice, they're planning to screw you over.

This sounds very dodgy.

Your partner is talking out of his arse and I’d strongly advise you to get your own independent accountant, and move your business to a completely different property that has absolutely nothing to do with them.

First things first get all of your post redirected to an address or PO Box that none of them know about or can access.

This bullshit that he’s coming out with is so ludicrous that it’s obvious he’s trying to swindle you, there’s no way he’s misunderstood his “accountants advice” - and you should also be concerned that he and his kids may try and take out loans or open bank accounts in your business name.

Absolutely, it’s rubbish I rent to businesses and nothing like that is happening yes don’t go to the same accountant go to a different one.

This is total bs. Your instincts are right. For some reason they are trying to screw you over.

They are entirely seperate industries.
Thank you.

I’d get a new accountant, a new business premises and a new husband.

On a slightly different note it was my understanding that you need to be paying market rent to avoid inheritance tax by transferring property to someone elses name. So a peppercorn rent wouldnt cut it. Worth checking out for sure though!

You need your own independent accountant asap.

I'd also be looking into leaving partner, it's dodgy and she's going along with it. Get out.

He's*

Yes I thought this too

Yeah, if that's the full info then it isn't right. I'd be worried they are trying to claim ownership of the business. Do you have a proper lease of the premises? Can you operate from elsewhere if it comes to it?

Its a lot more complicated to do with the whole property value and future bankruptsy protection. TBH the kids want nothing to do with it and a market rent would affect their own tax. Its a rural farm property and peppercorn rents are normal as my business income contributes to the whole property expenditure.

why would landlords have to pay the tax?? that is so not practical on soooo many levels. Why would it need a new account set up that you dont have control over? IF say the tax thing was real all you would need to do is transfer your' tax amount over to the landlord.

At best it sounds like they want to use your company income and cashflow to help improve the appearance of their company, at worst they want to actually steal your cash and hope you dont notice. Only you will know if they are stupid (and misunderstood something the accountant was saying ) or criminal and manipulative.

Either way I would not give them a mm of room to weasel into your company affairs.

Have they told you about this new tax rule? Where is it from? What is it called?

I think they’re definitely trying to skim money from you for the other business

You were happy to get involved in their tax avoidance schemes when it benefited you. Now they want to do dodgy deals that undermine you you're trying to clap back.

You reap what you sow.

I don't see how there can be decisions made about your business without your involvement. Surely it's just a suggestion?
I guess the accountant can suggest something as being more tax efficient in general terms, that doesn't mean they have discussed any details of your business.
Even if particular details were discussed, if your partner knows about your business and has told the accountant the info then the accountant isn't out of line.
It's only if the accountant gives your partner information that he didn't already know, that there would be a breach.
Anyone can discuss anything, it's not like a accountant can make any decisions, only advise. It sounds like your partner is the one at fault here, if this is presented as a done deal.

Thanks but I had nothing to do with any of it. It was between him, his kids and ex wife and was done years before I came into the picture..

I think you are correct. I was informed in such a way that the decision was made and account being set up on the accountants advise

Well not really as you chose to use the building and thereby avoid paying market rent. You could have found somewhere independent to operate your business

Thank you. There are lots of new tax rules for holiday lets. I use a booking company who keep me up to date with all tax changes.. This is not one.