What do I need to do to change my meter?
Do you want to change accountant and don't know how the process works? In this article, we'll answer all your questions.
Every entrepreneur can decide to change their accountant. Whatever the motivation, it is always the business owner who decides to hire an accountancy service, and they are responsible for finding the best option for their business.
There is also no set time to replace professionals, i.e. what will determine whether it is time to change or not is the need of the company.
Accounting is an essential sector for the survival of any business and no one wants to depend on professionals who don't give due importance to the work and put the company at risk of not fulfilling its obligations.
If you're considering changing your accountant, check out the information and tips below.
See more: Presumed Profit Income Tax, learn how to calculate!
What is the importance of accounting?
It is very important for all entrepreneurs to be aware of the importance of accounting for a business.
All companies, with the sole exception of MEIs, have a legal obligation to have an accountant. This professional is responsible for regularizing all the business's tax obligations.
This includes payroll, tax payments, property issues, identifying problems and maintaining all documentation relating to these areas.
In addition, the service is extremely important for the company's decision-making and strategic planning, and even has an impact on the predictability of growth and profit.
The accounting department plays an important role from the moment a company opens, to its expansion and even in cases of closure. It is they who resolve all tax issues, as well as any pending issues at each of these stages.
Considering that Brazil has a complex tax system, the help of efficient accounting is essential in order to comply with all duties.
On the other hand, poor service can lead to various problems such as non-payment of taxes, paying more taxes than necessary, choosing the wrong tax regime for the business, lack of organization of accounting documents, among others.
Even if the work is the responsibility of the accountant, it is the entrepreneur and the company who are liable for tax irregularities and can be held criminally responsible.
Therefore, when you identify that the service does not meet the needs of the business and puts your integrity at risk, changing accountants is the best option.
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When should I change my meter?
The process of changing accountants or accounting firms is simpler than it sounds. Here are some of the main steps you can take to make the switch:
Check the current contract.
The first step when deciding to switch is to check what the current service contract says. There are firms and professionals who use clauses that provide for fines in the event of termination or the obligation to give prior notice.
That's why it's important to check the document carefully in order to avoid legal problems.
Check for any pending issues.
Another important point is to check that the current accountant has not left any outstanding debts or situations that could hinder the progress of the company's activities. For example, installments of municipal or federal debts.
One suggestion is to analyze the documents from the last five years to see if there are any outstanding issues that could still affect the business. Although it's a lot of work, this will keep your company safe from surprises when you change accountants.
Even so, it's worth remembering that if there were errors in proceedings prior to the replacement, they are the responsibility of the law firm that acted at the time.
Find out what advisory accounting is, read the article!
Communicate your decision.
You need to make your decision official, either by e-mail or a letter registered by post, telling the accounting office that you are quitting your job.
In this contact, you should make clear the request to terminate the contract, the end date of the service, request all the documentation in the professional's possession and ask for a report on the company's registration status.
One tip is to carry out the changeover process at the end of the month, so that the new service starts operating at the beginning of the following month.
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Hire a new service.
As soon as you've decided to change accountants, it's a good idea to look for a new professional or accounting firm. This is important so that you have time to select a qualified service.
If you've decided to change your accountant and are looking for a firm with expertise and high-level professionals to meet the demands of your business, get to know CLM Controller.
We have been operating in the market for over 40 years, serving companies of all sizes with professionalism, credibility and efficiency. Contact us to answer your questions.
