Accountant got raided. Need Urgent HELP

[virgouk31]

Hello,

I am applying for Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Extension in next week as my visa is gonna expire on 09-04-2018. Last month the accountant who was dealing with my accounts was raided by Home Office and they took all his files and his main server, because of that i am not able to get any documents which can prove the employment creation like duplicate wage slips, RTI Submissions, Employee Payment Record P32, Employer Payment Summary, P11, HMRC Employment Record etc. I went to a new accountant and he is doing my accounts but for the employment documents they can't do anything. On their advice i rang HMRC twice and explained them the situation, they are saying that they have forwarded my request and a team will call me and they can see what they can do.
The Home Office on the other hand just telling the old accountant that he will get his main server soon which i doubt very much now because its already been a month.
My solicitor is saying that we should send the application with all other documents with a letter from him explaining the situation and tell the Home Office that we will send the remaining Employees documents as soon as we get the server back. In the meantime if we get the server back before my biometrics we will send the remaining employees documents to Home Office.
Have anyone of you faced this unfortunate situation or can help and advice me that what can be done to avoid refusal?
Thanks.

[sm12]

Very sorry to hear about this.

Copy of payslips can perhaps be taken from employees?
Do you have your HMRC login info? A basic version of the FPS can be found there. The HMRC does in some cases send out copies of full FPS. Ring them again and tell them that you need it to get your payroll running again as you have lost your records.
Technically, you could download a payroll software and generate all the documents again as long as you have basic information about your payroll available, but do this only if all the above cannot be done.


Why did the Home Office raid your accountant though?

[ssb27]

Option 1: Maybe call HMRC and ask them if they can send a copy of the missing documents you have listed.

Also, I am sure if you know the hourly rate and number of days each employee works/worked, then your new accountant can generate a new payslip using his software.

Option 2: Try and log onto HMRC system and extract the documents.

Do you have your latest management account? what year did you invest your 50k?

[seasky]

For clarification Home Office raided accountant not HMRC or other financial related body?

[RIAN19833]

Hi
Where is your accountant based? I know an accountant in London who also got raided by HMRC.
Thanks

[9elizabeth]

Was your accountant located in Birmingham? I know an Accountant who had his office raided in Birmingham (B*2 postcode area-don't want to give his postcode on forum hence put * mark in post code) by Home Office?

[seasky]

Was your accountant located in Birmingham? I know an Accountant who had his office raided in Birmingham (B*2 postcode area-don't want to give his postcode on forum hence put * mark in post code) by Home Office?

Same question as I asked OP. Raided by HO not HMRC?

(I googled HO raid accountant found nothing. I guess reasons to do so is accountant is employing immigrants no work visa, like any other business could be raided. Or accountant is helping immigrants with dodgy "accounting")

[9elizabeth]

Yes, the accountant was raided by Home Office and NOT by HMRC. Only OP can can confirm why he was raided by HO.

[seasky]

Yes, the accountant was raided by Home Office and NOT by HMRC. Only OP can can confirm why he was raided by HO.

As you know of this Birmingham raid (which may or may not be same accountant as OP) do you know prima facie why was raided? Does this firm specialize in immigration matters?

[virgouk31]

Very sorry to hear about this.

Copy of payslips can perhaps be taken from employees?
Do you have your HMRC login info? A basic version of the FPS can be found there. The HMRC does in some cases send out copies of full FPS. Ring them again and tell them that you need it to get your payroll running again as you have lost your records.
Technically, you could download a payroll software and generate all the documents again as long as you have basic information about your payroll available, but do this only if all the above cannot be done.


Why did the Home Office raid your accountant though?

Some of the employees have left, only able to get payslips from 1 employee.

I have created hmrc account but it does not let me log in, also my new accoutant is telling me that you only get the documents from HMRC.

I called HMRC twice and they said that they have forwarded my request, a team from P11 d department called and told me that they are unable to see any data which is quite weird.

I will call them again and ask for full FPS.

The accountant is saying that HO got some complaints about him, and HO suspected that he is creating fake jobs.

[virgouk31]

Option 1: Maybe call HMRC and ask them if they can send a copy of the missing documents you have listed.

Also, I am sure if you know the hourly rate and number of days each employee works/worked, then your new accountant can generate a new payslip using his software.

Option 2: Try and log onto HMRC system and extract the documents.

Do you have your latest management account? what year did you invest your 50k?

Called HMRC twice and i am gonna call them again today.

I am not able to extract documents online

I have two companies, got latest management accounts for one, and full accounts for the other.

I am on £200k route

[virgouk31]

For clarification Home Office raided accountant not HMRC or other financial related body?

Yes Home Office.

[virgouk31]

Hi
Where is your accountant based? I know an accountant in London who also got raided by HMRC.
Thanks

In Birmingham

[virgouk31]

Was your accountant located in Birmingham? I know an Accountant who had his office raided in Birmingham (B*2 postcode area-don't want to give his postcode on forum hence put * mark in post code) by Home Office?

In Birmingham B11 area. They raided quite a few accountants i heard

[virgouk31]

Was your accountant located in Birmingham? I know an Accountant who had his office raided in Birmingham (B*2 postcode area-don't want to give his postcode on forum hence put * mark in post code) by Home Office?

Same question as I asked OP. Raided by HO not HMRC?

(I googled HO raid accountant found nothing. I guess reasons to do so is accountant is employing immigrants no work visa, like any other business could be raided. Or accountant is helping immigrants with dodgy "accounting")

By Home Office.

They suspected him for dodgy accounting i guess

[virgouk31]

Yes, the accountant was raided by Home Office and NOT by HMRC. Only OP can can confirm why he was raided by HO.

OP?

[virgouk31]

Yes, the accountant was raided by Home Office and NOT by HMRC. Only OP can can confirm why he was raided by HO.

As you know of this Birmingham raid (which may or may not be same accountant as OP) do you know prima facie why was raided? Does this firm specialize in immigration matters?

I think he was raided because they suspected him for dodgy employment and he was also doing some immigration cases as well (not mine) my solicotor is in Scotland.

[CR001]

Yes, the accountant was raided by Home Office and NOT by HMRC. Only OP can can confirm why he was raided by HO.

OP?

OP = Original Poster

[seasky]

"The accountant is saying that HO got some complaints about him, and HO suspected that he is creating bad quality jobs."

sorry don't understand this. Accountants and any other business are allowed to create bad quality jobs.

Clearly there is an immigration connection to this accountant, pls explain. It -may- be very relevant to your case.

When I applied ILR I had problem with wrong FPS format. I tried getting HMRC to send something (thinking HO would accept that) and vaguely remember they only do that if something along the lines if there is a fire ( I actually delayed ILR application for months for this issue). The forum suggested porting to other SW but a. I had doubts on the authenticity of that b. but mostly so many employees, changing salaries, sick pay, maternity pay, travel pay, child vouchers etc it would have been impossible to do so without mistakes.

I ended up applying anyway and giving alternative evidence to the FPS, also citing that my payroll is HMRC sanctioned and -explaining it very well- in covering letter.

You may just have to explain the situation (to apply in time) and get as much evidence of employment as you can(and if more comes along a little later, send it in)

If your accountant is an immigration cheat or supports other in such, you may have a problem (which may be very unfair, but a few years back many lost their visa unfairly because others cheated an English test). You need to make it crystal clear that you are a good entrepreneur with strong evidence (besides what you are trying to reassemble sans accountant) of employment e.g. in covering letter "I am proud that I have 4 employees, all have worked with me since the business got momentum 1.5 years ago and will continue for the future as we grow" sets the positive tone

[seasky]

By Home Office.

They suspected him for dodgy accounting i guess

HO does not raid accountants for dodgy accounting if not (suspect) immigration connected. HMRC would do that...

You WILL have to disassociate yourself from his suspected practices

[virgouk31]

"The accountant is saying that HO got some complaints about him, and HO suspected that he is creating bad quality jobs."

sorry don't understand this. Accountants and any other business are allowed to create bad quality jobs.

Clearly there is an immigration connection to this accountant, pls explain. It -may- be very relevant to your case.

When I applied ILR I had problem with wrong FPS format. I tried getting HMRC to send something (thinking HO would accept that) and vaguely remember they only do that if something along the lines if there is a fire ( I actually delayed ILR application for months for this issue). The forum suggested porting to other SW but a. I had doubts on the authenticity of that b. but mostly so many employees, changing salaries, sick pay, maternity pay, travel pay, child vouchers etc it would have been impossible to do so without mistakes.

I ended up applying anyway and giving alternative evidence to the FPS, also citing that my payroll is HMRC sanctioned and -explaining it very well- in covering letter.

You may just have to explain the situation (to apply in time) and get as much evidence of employment as you can(and if more comes along a little later, send it in)

If your accountant is an immigration cheat or supports other in such, you may have a problem (which may be very unfair, but a few years back many lost their visa unfairly because others cheated an English test). You need to make it crystal clear that you are a good entrepreneur with strong evidence (besides what you are trying to reassemble sans accountant) of employment e.g. in covering letter "I am proud that I have 4 employees, all have worked with me since the business got momentum 1.5 years ago and will continue for the future as we grow" sets the positive tone

The accountant was also doing the immigration cases as well, i think the HO got suspicious in some of the applications he applied for his client's immigration.

Usually they copy the data and send the server back, but they are delaying him for no apparent reason.

I have sent all the other documents to my solicitor and he is saying that if we don't get the employees information, we will send the application with an extensive cover letter explaining the situation that HO got the server and we are waiting for the accountant's server and that we have also contacted HMRC to send us the relevant documents.

I have changed my accountant for obvious reasons that the old accountant is suspicious in the HO eyes, the new accountant did the management accounts 2017-18 for the company which the old accountant was dealing, and also the new accounts for the new company. He also provided me the investment letters but he is saying that he can only write the employment letter when he see all the record.

[virgouk31]

"The accountant is saying that HO got some complaints about him, and HO suspected that he is creating bad quality jobs."

sorry don't understand this. Accountants and any other business are allowed to create bad quality jobs.

Clearly there is an immigration connection to this accountant, pls explain. It -may- be very relevant to your case.

When I applied ILR I had problem with wrong FPS format. I tried getting HMRC to send something (thinking HO would accept that) and vaguely remember they only do that if something along the lines if there is a fire ( I actually delayed ILR application for months for this issue). The forum suggested porting to other SW but a. I had doubts on the authenticity of that b. but mostly so many employees, changing salaries, sick pay, maternity pay, travel pay, child vouchers etc it would have been impossible to do so without mistakes.

I ended up applying anyway and giving alternative evidence to the FPS, also citing that my payroll is HMRC sanctioned and -explaining it very well- in covering letter.

You may just have to explain the situation (to apply in time) and get as much evidence of employment as you can(and if more comes along a little later, send it in)

If your accountant is an immigration cheat or supports other in such, you may have a problem (which may be very unfair, but a few years back many lost their visa unfairly because others cheated an English test). You need to make it crystal clear that you are a good entrepreneur with strong evidence (besides what you are trying to reassemble sans accountant) of employment e.g. in covering letter "I am proud that I have 4 employees, all have worked with me since the business got momentum 1.5 years ago and will continue for the future as we grow" sets the positive tone

I think he was also giving solicitor advice, preparing and sending cases to HO and HO got suspicious on some of the cases he sent for immigration.
HO usually copy all the data and return the server but in this case they are delaying him.

I have sent all my documents to my solicitor and he is saying that if we don't get the employment documents we will send the application without them and in the covering letter we will explain everything and tell the HO that we will send the documents as soon as the accountant will get his server back or we get them from HMRC.

I have changed the accountant, new accountant viewed all the accounts, and made the management accounts for the company the old accountant dealing with and the new company accounts, he also gave the letter for investment.

[virgouk31]

By Home Office.

They suspected him for dodgy accounting i guess

HO does not raid accountants for dodgy accounting if not (suspect) immigration connected. HMRC would do that...

You WILL have to disassociate yourself from his suspected practices

He was also dealing with immigration

I have changed the accountant, new accountant viewed all the accounts, and made the management accounts for the company the old accountant dealing with and the new company accounts, he also gave the letter for investment.