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Terms of Engagement

Thank you for choosing Buzz Accounting as your accountants. This engagement letter outlines the terms of our work together.

Please read it carefully:

1. Who We Act For

We are acting for you only. If you require us to work with your spouse, business partner, director, or company, a separate engagement letter will be issued.

2. Services We Provide

We will provide the following services:

✅ Bookkeeping services
✅ Self-Assessment Tax Return (SATR) preparation and submission (if applicable)
✅ Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) processing for contractors/subcontractors (if applicable)
✅ [Other agreed services, e.g., VAT returns, payroll]

If you require additional services beyond what is listed, please let us know so we can agree on the scope separately.

3. Your Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

  • Ensuring all records and receipts are accurate and complete.
  • Informing us of any material changes in your financial situation.
  • Reviewing and approving financial reports before submission.
  • Forwarding all HMRC correspondence to us promptly.
  • Monitoring your VAT registration threshold and notifying us if exceeded.

⚠️ Failure to meet these responsibilities may result in HMRC penalties, for which Buzz Accounting is not responsible.

4. Fees & Payment Terms

  • Fees are detailed on our website: www.buzzaccounting.co.uk .
  • Payment terms and policies are set out in our Standard Terms & Conditions.
  • Failure to pay on time may result in service suspension or additional charges.

5. Data Protection & Confidentiality

  • We handle your data in compliance with the UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018.
  • All information provided will be kept confidential unless disclosure is required by law or regulatory bodies
    (e.g., HMRC).
  • More details are available in our Privacy Notice.

6. Limitation of Liability

  • Our total liability is limited to one year’s chargeable fees, except in cases of fraud or negligence.
  • We are not responsible for HMRC penalties due to delays or incorrect information provided by you.

7. Dispute Resolution & Complaints

  • If you have a complaint, please contact Andy Jackson, Buzz Accounting: andy@buzzaccounting.co.uk
  • If unresolved, you may escalate it to ICPA’s dispute resolution service.

8. Starting the Agreement

Please check your direct debit agreement to note the fee per month, you will receive the services stated above from the first day that your direct debit begins and the engagement will begin from [INSERT SIGN UP DATE]

This engagement will continue until formal termination by either party.

9. Ending the Agreement

  • Either party may terminate this agreement with 7 days’ written notice.
  • If you are entering this agreement as a consumer (i.e., not as a company or partnership), you have the
    right to cancel this contract within 14 days without providing a reason. To exercise this right, you
    must inform us in writing within the cooling-off period.
  • Immediate termination may occur if payment is overdue, there is non-cooperation, or if fraud is suspected.

Your Agreement

By signing up, you confirm that you:

✅ Agree to these terms and conditions.
✅ Understand your responsibilities.
✅ Consent to Buzz Accounting processing your data as per UK GDPR.

These Standard Terms & Conditions apply to all services provided by Buzz Accounting. By engaging with us, you agree to these terms.

1. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be resolved in English courts.

2. Client Identification & Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance

As a regulated firm, we must comply with UK anti-money laundering laws.

As part of our legal obligations under UK Anti-Money Laundering regulations, we may request proof of identity and retain this information in line with regulatory requirements. If suspicious activity is detected, we are required to report it without informing the you, the client, please note:

  • We may request and retain identification documents before starting work.
  • If we suspect illegal activity, we must report it to the authorities and cannot notify you.

Failure to provide ID may delay or prevent us from acting on your behalf.

3. Confidentiality & Data Protection (GDPR Compliance)

  • We handle your data in line with UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018.
  • We will not disclose your information unless required by law, HMRC, or regulatory bodies.
  • All client data is stored securely and encrypted where necessary.

4. Scope of Services

  • Our services are outlined in your Engagement Letter.
  • Any additional work must be separately agreed.
  • We do not provide investment, legal, or financial planning advice unless explicitly stated.

5. Client Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

✅ Keeping accurate and complete financial records.
✅ Submitting all required information on time.
✅ Reviewing and approving financial reports before submission.
✅ Notifying us of VAT registration threshold breaches.

⚠️ Buzz Accounting is not responsible for HMRC penalties due to late or incorrect information provided by you.

6. Fees, Billing & Payment Terms

  • Fees are outlined on our website: [www.buzzaccounting.co.uk] 
  • Payment is due within 7 days of invoice issuance.
  • If an invoice is not paid on time, we may:
  • Suspend services.
  • Charge interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate.
  • Take legal action for recovery.

Any third-party costs (e.g. external consultants) will be billed separately.

7. Professional Indemnity Insurance & Limitation of Liability

  • As an ICPA-registered firm, we maintain professional indemnity insurance.
  • We are not liable for indirect losses, including HMRC penalties due to late document submission.
  • Our total liability for any loss arising out of or in connection with this engagement shall not exceed
    the total fees paid for our services in the preceding 12 months. This limitation shall not apply to losses
    resulting from fraud or gross negligence.

8. Communication & Electronic Correspondence

  • We use email, portals, and cloud-based platforms for secure communication.
  • If you require encrypted email, please notify us.
  • We are not responsible for delays or misdirection of emails.

9. Complaints & Dispute Resolution

  • If you have a complaint, contact Andy Jackson.
  • If unresolved, you may escalate it to ICPA’s dispute resolution service.

10. Termination of Services

  • Either party may terminate this agreement with 7 days’ written notice.
  • Immediate termination may occur if:
  • You fail to cooperate.
  • We suspect fraudulent activity.
  • Payment is overdue beyond 30 days.

All outstanding fees must be settled before we release any documents.

11. Retention of Records

We will retain client records for a period of seven years from the date of service completion. After this period, records may be securely destroyed unless you, as the client, request(s) otherwise in writing before this period ends.”

  • If you need copies, request them before the retention period ends.

12. Intellectual Property

All documents we produce remain our intellectual property, except those required for HMRC submission.

13. Force Majeure (Uncontrollable Events)

We are not liable for delays due to:

  • System failures, cyber-attacks, or data breaches.
  • Government regulations, pandemics, or extreme weather.
  • Any unforeseen events beyond our control.

14. Third-Party Reliance & External Advice

  • Our advice is for your use only. Third parties cannot rely on our work without written consent.
  • We may refer you to external professionals, but we are not responsible for their advice.

15. Amendments to Terms

These terms may be updated. You will be notified of any changes, and continued use of our services implies acceptance.