Apostle Accounting to be wound up
It comes as ‘hundreds’ of Apostle clients are facing large bills from HMRC after claiming rebates through the firm which they later discovered they were not entitled to
Accountancy firm Apostle Accounting is set to be wound up after hundreds of its clients were left with large tax bills over rebate claims they weren’t entitled to.
A notice in the London Gazette confirmed the firm’s directors have now appointed DFW Associates as liquidators, with a resolution passed on 10 October to wind up the company.
The resolution stated: “That the Company be wound up voluntarily and that David Frederick Wilson (IP No. 006074) of DFW Associates, 29 Park Square West, Leeds, LS1 2PQ be appointed Liquidator for the purposes of such voluntary winding up.”
According to the BBC, it comes as “hundreds” of Apostle clients are facing large bills from HMRC after claiming rebates through the firm which they later discovered they were not entitled to.
In a previous statement over the issue, Apostle said: “We are aware of claims from HMRC against former clients in respect of an historically offered service, whereby we assisted individuals to identify and prepare tax rebate claims in respect of employment-related expenses. We understand that HMRC is now contacting said former clients, seeking payment for alleged wrongly claimed employment expense rebates.
“We understand that said former clients have received standardised letters from HMRC seeking repayment, mirroring letters to clients of other practices nationally in respect of expense rebate claims. This is not solely an issue that former Apostle clients are dealing with.”
It also denied wrongdoing, and said it followed all guidelines in place by HMRC at the time, adding that all claims were approved by HMRC.
It added that it took specialist independent tax advice and completed an internal analysis, and “we remain satisfied that we have complied with HMRC’s guidance throughout”.
The firm said: “As we understand matters, the claims alleged against us in respect of this service from former clients relate to alleged wrongly claimed expenses, and/or how the expenses claimed cannot now be evidenced. Based on the information we have received, we believe the cases demonstrate an incorrect application by HMRC officers of their own rules/guidance in respect of employee work related expenses claims.”
Apostle Accounting has been contacted for comment.
