Terms of Service
Last updated: 2 June 2026
These terms explain the basis on which Ali H Advisors provides tax, accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, CIS, HMRC correspondence, and related advisory services to individuals, sole traders, and small businesses.
Specific client work may also be governed by an engagement letter, proposal, fee schedule, professional clearance, or written instructions. If those documents conflict with these general website terms, the specific written engagement terms will take priority for that client work.
Scope of Services
Services may include bookkeeping, Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, annual accounts, VAT returns, payroll, CIS returns, HMRC correspondence, tax compliance support, and related advisory work. The exact scope, deadlines, fees, client responsibilities, and deliverables should be agreed in writing before work begins.
Professional Standards and Compliance
We aim to perform services with reasonable skill, care, and diligence in accordance with applicable UK tax law, accounting requirements, HMRC processes, anti-money-laundering obligations, data protection requirements, and professional standards relevant to the work instructed.
We do not guarantee tax outcomes, HMRC processing times, repayment dates, lender decisions, funding decisions, or the result of HMRC checks, enquiries, appeals, or correspondence.
Client Responsibilities
- Provide complete, accurate, and timely information, records, explanations, and authority to act where required.
- Review accounts, returns, reports, payroll records, VAT returns, and submissions before approval.
- Tell us promptly about changes in circumstances, HMRC notices, deadlines, investigations, errors, or missing information.
- Keep original records and supporting documents unless agreed otherwise in writing.
- Pay taxes, penalties, interest, statutory charges, and filing fees when due.
HMRC Record Keeping
Clients remain responsible for keeping adequate business, personal tax, VAT, payroll, CIS, company, and accounting records to support all returns and filings. Records should be accurate, complete, readable, and retained for the period required by law.
As a general guide, Self Assessment business records are normally kept for at least five years after the 31 January submission deadline for the relevant tax year. Company, VAT, payroll, CIS, accounting, and anti-money-laundering records may need to be kept for at least six years, and longer where returns are late, enquiries are open, disputes exist, transactions are ongoing, or law requires extended retention.
Anti-Money-Laundering and Identity Checks
Before and during an engagement, we may request identity documents, proof of address, company ownership details, source of funds information, and information about the nature and purpose of the work. Work may be delayed, refused, suspended, or terminated if required checks cannot be completed or if legal obligations require it.
We may be legally required to report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities and may be restricted from telling a client that a report has been made.
Tax Advice and Filings
Advice is based on the facts, records, law, rates, reliefs, and HMRC guidance available at the time the advice is given. Changes in law, HMRC practice, case law, or client circumstances may affect earlier advice. Unless agreed in writing, we are not responsible for updating advice after it has been provided.
No return, account, or filing will be submitted unless authorised by the client or an authorised representative. The client remains responsible for the accuracy and completeness of approved submissions.
Fees and Payment
Fees may be fixed, recurring, hourly, or quoted by service. Additional fees may apply for urgent work, missing records, corrections, HMRC enquiries, appeals, extra meetings, software setup, historical catch-up work, or work outside the agreed scope. Payment terms should be stated in the engagement letter, invoice, or written fee agreement.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
We treat client information as confidential except where disclosure is authorised, necessary to provide the services, required by professional advisers or insurers, or required by law. Personal data is handled in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
Deadlines and Delays
We will take reasonable steps to meet agreed deadlines where complete information is provided in sufficient time. We are not responsible for penalties, interest, missed reliefs, late filing, or other losses caused by incomplete, inaccurate, delayed, or withheld client information, delayed approvals, third-party failures, HMRC delays, or events outside reasonable control.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, liability is limited to direct losses arising from failure to provide services with reasonable skill and care. We are not liable for indirect losses, loss of profit, loss of opportunity, business interruption, or consequences of client-provided inaccurate or incomplete information. Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded.
Termination
Either party may end an engagement by written notice, subject to payment for work completed and any agreed notice period. We may stop work immediately where legal duties require it, fees remain unpaid, records are not provided, instructions are misleading, or continuing the engagement would create a regulatory, ethical, or professional risk.
Complaints
Concerns should be raised promptly so they can be reviewed. Complaints can be sent through the contact form on this website or by writing to Ali H Advisors at 48 George Street, G2 1BP, Scotland.
Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of Scotland, unless a written engagement letter states otherwise. The courts of Scotland will have jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory consumer rights or legal protections that apply.