Is your accountant working for you?

Two people going through a printed report together, one pointing at a figure

Score your accountant

Eighteen statements

Answer each one as things are now.

Deadlines · whether things get filed on time without you chasing

Our filing deadlines are met without me having to chase anybody.I am told what is needed, and by when, before it becomes urgent.We have never had a penalty for something being filed late.

Tax · whether anyone plans your tax before the year end

Somebody raises tax with me before the year end, while I can still do something about it.I have been told about a relief or an allowance I did not know I could claim.I know roughly what my next tax bill will be before it arrives.

Your numbers · whether you see them in time to use them

I see my figures within a month of the period ending.I understand what they are telling me without needing them explained twice.I know which parts of what I do make money and which lose it.

Cash · whether you know your cash position ahead of time

I know roughly what my cash position will look like in three months.Tax money is set aside before the bill lands.Somebody has warned me about a cash problem before it happened.

Advice · whether anyone advises you on your plans for the business

Somebody asks me what I am trying to do with the business, as well as what it earned.I have been talked into, or out of, a decision by something they showed me.When something big comes up I ring them before I decide.

Being looked after · whether you can reach them and know what you pay

I get an answer within a working day when I ask something.I know exactly what I pay and what it covers, with no bill I did not expect.I deal with somebody who knows my business, and not whoever picks up.

Your score

Not scored yet– / 54

Deadlines–/9
Tax–/9
Your numbers–/9
Cash–/9
Advice–/9
Being looked after–/9

Fills in as you answer.

Late filing penalties

Companies House and HMRC charge these penalties automatically.

£150Company accounts one month late

£1,500The same accounts six months late

£100A late return, even with no tax to pay

£10A day on top, after three months

They double if you were late the year before, and the record stays on your public file. Source: gov.uk and Companies House guidance, checked September 2026. See the full list of deadlines.

The six areas scored

Deadlines

Whether things get filed on time without you chasing

Tax

Whether anyone plans your tax before the year end

Your numbers

Whether you see them in time to use them

Cash

Whether you know your cash position ahead of time

Advice

Whether anyone advises you on your plans for the business

Being looked after

Whether you can reach them and know what you pay

The written version

1
Answer the same eighteen
The statements come one at a time, with a progress bar, and take about four minutes.
2
Your scores land in your inbox
Every area is written up, with the things to ask for on each one.
3
Print it and put it in front of your accountant
Use it to ask your accountant the questions. If they answer well, staying is cheaper and less disruptive than moving.
4
Book half an hour if you want a second opinion
The booking link is on your results and you pick the slot.

Get it written up and sent to you

Common questions

How is it scored?

Each statement is Never, Sometimes, Usually or Always — nought to three. Three statements an area gives nine an area, and six areas gives fifty-four. Under nineteen and something needs fixing; over forty-eight and you are well served.

Can my accountant come out well?

Yes. A score above forty-eight means your accountant is serving you well.

What if I score badly on deadlines?

Start there, because late filing penalties are automatic.

My accountant does the filing and nothing else. Is that normal?

It is common. Many firms are set up to file returns and little else. Whether that is enough depends on what you are trying to do next.

I am not thinking of switching. Is this any use?

Yes. The list of things to ask for is aimed at the accountant you already have.

What do you do with my answers?

The version on this page is scored in your browser and stays there. The written version stores them against your email address so you can get back to your own results, and one click on the email stops us writing to you.