Bush & Co Limited Terms of Business

The following standard terms of business apply to all engagements accepted by Bush & Co. All work carried out is subject to these terms except where changes are expressly agreed in writing.

1. Professional Obligations

1.1          Details of the firm’s audit registration can be found here.

1.2          The professional rules applicable to our audit work are “Audit Regulations and Guidance” which can be found here on the icaew website. There are also the “International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland” at the frc website.

1.3          The code of conduct to which the firm is subject is the “Code of Ethics” of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales which can be found at the icaew website.  section B.  For our audit work we are also subject to the “FRC Ethical Standards” at the frc website.

1.4          We will observe and act in accordance with the bye-laws and regulations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales together with their ethical code referred to above. We accept instructions to act for you on this basis. In particular you give us authority to correct errors made by HM Revenue and Customs where we become aware of them. We will not be liable for any loss, damage or cost arising from our compliance with statutory or regulatory obligations.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

1.5          In accordance with the disclosure requirements of the Provision of Services Regulations 2009, our professional indemnity insurer is Markel (UK) Limited. The territorial coverage is worldwide excluding professional business carried out from an office in the United States of America or Canada and excludes any action for a claim brought in any court in the United States of America or Canada.

2. Investment Services

2.1           Since we are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority we may have to refer you to someone who is authorised if you need advice on investments. However, as we are licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, we may be able to provide certain investment services that are complementary to, or arise out of, the professional services we are providing to you.

2.2          Such advice may include:

  • advise you on investments generally, but not recommend a particular investment or type of investment;
  • refer you to a Permitted Third Party (PTP) (an independent firm authorised by the FCA), assist you and the PTP during the course of any advice given by that party and comment on, or explain, the advice received (but not make alternative recommendations). The PTP will issue you with his own terms and conditions letter, will be remunerated separately for his services and will take full responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
  • advise you in connection with the disposal of an investment, other than your rights in a pension policy or scheme;
  • advise and assist you in transactions concerning shares or other securities not quoted on a recognised exchange;
  • assist you in making arrangements for transactions in investments in certain circumstances; and
  • manage investments or act as trustee (or donee of a power of attorney) where decisions to invest are taken on the advice of an authorised person.

This paragraph in italics applies to corporate clients only.

2.3     We may also, on the understanding that the shares or other securities of the company are not publicly traded:

  • advise the company, existing or prospective shareholders in relation to exercising rights, taking benefits or share options, valuations and methods of such valuations;
  • arrange any agreements in connection with the issue, sale or transfer of the company’s shares or other securities;
  • arrange for the issue of new shares; and
  • act as the addressee to receive confirmation of acceptance of offer documents etc.

2.4          In the unlikely event that we cannot meet our liabilities to you, you may be able to claim compensation under the Chartered Accountants’ Compensation Scheme in respect of exempt regulated activities undertaken.

2.5          In relation to the conduct of insurance distribution activities, we are an ancillary insurance intermediary. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. However, we are included on the register maintained by the Financial Conduct Authority so that we can carry on insurance distribution activity, which is broadly the advising on, selling, and administration of insurance contracts. This part of our business, including arrangements for complaints or redress if something goes wrong, is regulated by ICAEW. The register can be accessed from the Financial Conduct Authority’s website at the fca website.

Financial Promotions

2.6          To enable us to provide you with a proper service, there may be occasions when we will need to contact you without your express permission concerning investment business matters.  For example, it may be in your interests to sell a particular investment and we would wish to inform you of this.  We may, therefore, contact you in such circumstances, but would only do so in our normal office hours.  We shall, of course, comply with any restrictions you may wish to impose which you notify to us in writing.

3. Commissions or Other Benefits

3.1          In some circumstances, commissions or other benefits may become payable to us in respect of transactions we arrange for you, in which case you will be notified in writing of the amount and terms of payment. The fees that would otherwise be payable by you will not be abated by such amounts. You consent to such commission or other benefits being retained by us without our being liable to account to you for any such amounts.

4. Client Monies

4.1          We may, from time to time, hold money on your behalf. Such money will be held in trust in a client bank account, which is segregated from the firm’s funds. The account will be operated, and all funds dealt with, in accordance with the Clients’ Money Regulations of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

4.2          In order to avoid an excessive amount of administration, interest will only be paid to you where the amount of interest that would be earned on the balances held on your behalf in any calendar year exceeds £25. Any such interest would be calculated using the prevailing rate applied by Barclays Bank Plc for small deposits subject to the minimum period of notice for withdrawals. Subject to any tax legislation, interest will be paid gross.

4.3          If the total sum of money held on your behalf is enough to give rise to a significant amount of interest or is likely to do so, then the money will be placed in a separate interest-bearing client bank account designated to you. All interest earned on such money will be paid to you. Subject to any tax legislation, interest will be paid gross.

4.4          In the unlikely event of us holding any unclaimed client monies we reserve the right to pay such monies to a registered charity in line with the guidelines set out in the Clients’ Money Regulations referred to above.  We will not do this unless we have been unable to contact you for at least 5 years and we have taken reasonable steps to trace you and return the monies.

5. Fees

5.1          Our fees are computed on the basis of time spent on your affairs by the principals, our staff and consultants and on the levels of skill and responsibility involved. Disbursements represent travel, accommodation and other expenses incurred in dealing with your affairs.  Our payment terms are 14 days from date of invoice.

5.2          If it is necessary to carry out work outside the responsibilities outlined in this letter, we will advise you accordingly. Any additional work will involve additional fees. We would like to point out that it is in your interests to ensure that your records etc. are completed to the agreed stage.

5.3          In the event that this firm ceases to act in relation to your business affairs you agree to meet all reasonable costs of providing information to the company’s new advisers.  In particular you agree to meet these costs where we are required by law to provide information to a successor firm.

5.4          For companies, as directors you guarantee to pay personally any fees (including disbursements) for services provided to the company that the company is unable to pay.  This clause shall become effective in the event of a receiver or liquidator being appointed to the company or the company otherwise being wound up.

6. Retention of Records

6.1          You have a legal responsibility to retain documents and records relevant to your financial affairs. During the course of our work we may collect information from you and others relevant to your tax and financial affairs. We will return any original records to you. Documents and records relevant to your tax affairs are required by law to be retained as follows:

Individuals, trustees and partnerships:

  • with trading or rental income: five years and 10 months after the end of the tax year;
  • otherwise: 22 months after the end of the tax year.

Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships, and other corporate entities:

  • six years from the end of the accounting.

6.2          Although certain documents may legally belong to you, we may destroy correspondence and other papers that we store electronically or otherwise that are more than seven years old, except documents we think may be of continuing significance. You must notify us in writing if you wish us to keep any document for a longer period.

7. Conflicts of Interest and Independence

7.1          We reserve the right during our engagement with you to deliver services to other clients whose interests might compete with yours or are or may be adverse to yours, subject to clause 8 below. We confirm that we will notify you immediately should we become aware of any conflict of interest involving us and affecting you unless we are unable to do so because of our confidentiality obligations.  We have safeguards that can be implemented to protect the interests of different clients if a conflict arises.  Where conflicts are identified which cannot be managed in a way that protects your interests then we regret that we will be unable to provide further services.

7.2          If a conflict of interest should arise, either between two or more of our clients, or in the provision of multiple services to a single client, we will take such steps as are necessary to deal with the conflict. In resolving the conflict, we would be guided by the Code of Ethics of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales which can be viewed at the  icaew website – Section 220.

8. Confidentiality

8.1          We confirm that where you give us confidential information we shall at all times keep it confidential, except as required by law or as provided for in regulatory, ethical or other professional statements relevant to our engagement.

9. Quality Control

9.1          As part of our ongoing commitment to providing a high quality service, our files are periodically subject to an independent regulatory or quality review. Our reviewers are highly experienced and professional people and are, of course, bound by the same requirements of confidentiality as our principals and staff.

Dealing with HM Revenue & Customs
When dealing with HM Revenue & Customs on your behalf we are required to be honest and to take reasonable care to ensure that your returns are correct.  To enable us to do this, you are required to be honest with us and to provide us with all necessary information in a timely manner.   For more information about “Your Charter” for your dealings with HM Revenue & Customs, see here at the hmrc website. To the best of our abilities, we will ensure that HM Revenue & Customs meet their side of the Charter in their dealings with you.

10. Help us to Give you the Right Service

10.1        If at any time you would like to discuss with us how our service to you could be improved, or if you are dissatisfied with the service you are receiving, please let us know, by contacting Sunny Truran.

10.2        We undertake to look into any complaint carefully and promptly and do all we can to explain the position to you. If we do not answer your complaint to your satisfaction you may of course take up the matter with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

10.3        In order for us to provide you with a high quality service on an ongoing basis it is essential that you provide us with relevant records and information when requested, reply to correspondence in a timely manner and otherwise follow the terms of the agreement between us set out in this Standard Terms of Business and associated Engagement letters. We therefore reserve the right to cancel the engagement between us with immediate effect in the event of:

  • your insolvency, bankruptcy or other arrangement being reached with creditors;
  • failure to pay our fees by the due dates;
  • either party being in breach of their obligations where this is not corrected within 30 days of being asked to do so. 

11. Applicable Law

11.1        This engagement letter is governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law. The Courts of England will have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any claim, dispute or difference concerning this engagement letter and any matter arising from it. Each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to object to any action being brought in those courts, to claim that the action has been brought in an inappropriate forum, or to claim that those courts do not have jurisdiction.

11.2        If any provision in this Standard Terms of Business or any associated engagement letter, or its application, are found to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

12. Changes in the Law

12.1        We will not accept responsibility if you act on advice previously given by us without first confirming with us that the advice is still valid in light of any change in the law or your circumstances.

12.2        We will accept no liability for losses arising from changes in the law or the interpretation thereof, practice, or public policy that are first published after the date on which the advice is given to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

13. Internet Communication

13.1        Unless you instruct us otherwise we may, where appropriate, communicate with you and with third parties via email or by other electronic means. However, internet communications are capable of data corruption and therefore we do not accept any responsibility for changes made to such communications after their despatch.  It may therefore be inappropriate to rely on advice contained in an e-mail without obtaining written confirmation of it. We do not accept responsibility for any errors or problems that may arise through the use of internet communication and all risks connected with sending commercially sensitive information relating to your business are borne by you. If you do not agree to accept this risk, you should notify us in writing that e-mail is not an acceptable means of communication. We will never change our bank details without confirming this to you by posted letter. Any emailed or telephoned communications appearing to be from us which are not confirmed by post are fake and we accept no liability for any loss caused to you through accepting such communications as genuine. Similarly, always give us by hand or by post (as well as by email) details of your bank account.

13.2        It is the responsibility of the recipient to carry out a virus check on any attachments received.

14. Data Protection

14.1.      In this clause:

Data Protection Legislation: means the Data Protection Act 2018 (the DPA),  the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003  and the UK GDPR

Personal data, controller, processor, data subject and processing have the meanings respectively set out in the UK GDPR.

14.2        So we can carry out the services agreed under our engagement, and for other related purposes including updating and enhancing client records, analysis for management purposes and statutory returns, crime prevention and legal and regulatory compliance, we may obtain, use, process and disclose the personal data of you/your business/company/partnership/its officers and employees and shareholders.

14.3        We confirm that, if you are an individual or a partnership, in respect of your personal data we are each considered an independent data controller.   In relation to personal data that we are processing on your behalf, we agree that we will be the processor and you the controller. We will each comply with the relevant provisions of the Data Protection Legislation, including where applicable the guidance and codes of practice issued by the Information Commissioner.

14.4        You will ensure that any disclosure of personal data to us complies with the Data Protection Legislation. If you supply us with any personal data, you shall ensure you have a lawful basis to pass it to us and will fully indemnify and hold us harmless if you do not have a legal basis that causes us loss. If you are supplying us with personal data on the basis of a power of attorney for anyone, you must produce to us an original or certified power of attorney on demand. You must ensure you have provided the necessary information to the relevant data subjects regarding use of their data by us.

14.5      We warrant that to the extent we process any personal data on your behalf we will:

  • act only on instructions from you;
  • have in place appropriate technical and organisational security measures against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data. Such measures shall be appropriate to the harm that might result from the unauthorised or unlawful processing;
  • ensure all personnel who have access to the personal data are obliged to keep it confidential;
  • assist you to respond to a data subject’s request to enforce their rights of subject access, rectification, erasure and any other rights conferred by the Data Protection Legislation;
  • assist you if requested with respect to security, breach notifications, impact assessments and any investigations by a supervisory authority or regulator;
  • notify you without undue delay in the event of a data security breach and assist you with any investigations;
  • at your direction delete or return to you all personal data and copies on termination unless required by law to retain the same;
  • maintain complete and accurate records to demonstrate its compliance with this clause and allow for audits by you; and
  • keep up to date a data processing register.

14.6  In some cases, third parties that we engage may transfer personal data outside of the UK or EEA. Where personal data is transferred outside of the UK or EEA, we will ensure that personal data is provided the required protection by ensuring adequate contractual safeguards for such transfer (e.g. the European Commission’s standard data protection clauses and UK IDTA Addendum), to ensure the security of your personal data is maintained when it is processed by the third party. Our current subprocessors that transfer data outside the UK and the EEA are listed in our Privacy Policy Statement.     

We shall not appoint new third-party sub-processors without giving you 7 days’ notice and ensuring that any such third-party sub-processor enters into an agreement with the same or substantially similar terms in relation to Data Protection Legislation.

14.7        In the course of providing services to you, we may disclose personal data to other firms in our network (including Astria Payroll), a regulatory body or a third party or a buyer of our business. We will ensure all such data disclosure/export is compliant with relevant data protection legislation.

14.8        Full details of how we handle your personal data when we are the controller are set out in our Privacy Statement.

15. Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999

15.1        Persons who are not party to this agreement shall have no rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this agreement. This clause does not affect any right or remedy of any person which exists or is available otherwise than pursuant to that Act.

15.2        The advice we give you is for your sole use and is confidential to you and will not constitute advice for any third party to whom you may communicate it. We will accept no responsibility to third parties including any group company to whom the engagement letter is not addressed, your spouse nor any family member of yours or your employer, for any aspect of our professional services or work that is made available to them.

16. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2017

16.1        In common with all accountancy and legal practices, the firm is required by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 to:

Maintain identification procedures for clients and beneficial owners of clients;

Maintain records of identification evidence and the work undertaken for the client; and Report, in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulations.

16.2        We have a duty under section 330 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to report to the National Crime Agency (NCA) if we know, or have reasonable cause to suspect, that another person is involved in money laundering. Failure on our part to make a report where we have knowledge or reasonable grounds for suspicion would constitute a criminal offence.

16.3        The offence of money laundering is defined by section 340(11) of the Proceeds of Crime Act and includes concealing, converting, using or possessing the benefits of any activity that constitutes a criminal offence in the UK. It also includes involvement in any arrangement that facilitates the acquisition, retention, use or control of such a benefit.

This definition is very wide and would include such crimes as:

  • deliberate tax evasion;
  • deliberate failure to inform the tax authorities of known underpayments or excessive repayments;
  • fraudulent claiming of benefits or grants; or
  • obtaining a contract through bribery.

Clearly this list is by no means exhaustive.

16.4        We are obliged by law to report any instances of money laundering to NCA without your knowledge or consent. In consequence, neither the firm’s principals nor staff may enter into any correspondence or discussions with you regarding such matters.

16.5        We are not required to undertake work for the sole purpose of identifying suspicions of money laundering. We shall fulfil our obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in accordance with the guidance published by the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies.

17. General Limitation of Liability

17.1        We will provide services as outlined in this letter with reasonable care and skill. However, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be responsible for any losses, penalties, surcharges, interest or additional tax liabilities where you or others supply incorrect or incomplete information, or fail to supply any appropriate information or where you fail to act on our advice or respond promptly to communications from us or the tax authorities. Subject to clause 17.5 below, our liability to you shall be limited as set out in our engagement or other client letter.

17.2        You will not hold us, our principals, consultants or our staff, responsible, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for any loss suffered by you arising from any misrepresentation (intentional or unintentional) supplied to us orally or in writing in connection with this agreement. You have agreed that you will not bring any claim in connection with services we provide to you against any of our partners or employees personally.

17.3        You agree that you will not bring any claim in connection with services we provide to you against any of our partners, shareholders, directors or employees personally.

17.4        Our work is not, unless there is a legal or regulatory requirement, to be made available to third parties without our written permission and we will accept no responsibility to third parties for any aspect of our professional services or work that is made available to them. You agree to indemnify us and our agents in respect of any claim (including any claim for negligence) arising out of any unauthorised disclosure by you or by any person for whom you are responsible of our advice and opinions, whether in writing or otherwise. This indemnity will extend to the cost of defending any such claim, including payment at our usual rates for the time that we spend in defending it and our legal fees on an indemnity basis.

17.5        Nothing in this agreement shall exclude or limit our liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence nor for fraudulent misrepresentation or other fraud which may not as a matter of applicable law be excluded or limited.

18. Probate Services

18.1        As we are authorised for the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate, in the unlikely event that we cannot meet our liabilities to you, you may be able to seek a grant from ICAEW’s Probate Compensation Scheme.  Generally, applications for a grant must be made to ICAEW within 12 months of the time you become aware, or reasonably ought to have been made aware of the loss.  Further information about the scheme and the circumstances in which grants may be made is available on ICAEW’s website.

18.2        If you would like to talk to us about how we can improve our service to you, or if you are unhappy with the service you are receiving, please let us know by contacting the probate contact director Catherine Dymond. We will consider carefully any complaint that you may make about our probate services as soon as we receive it and will do all we can to resolve the issue.  We will acknowledge your complaint within five business days of its receipt and endeavour to deal with it within 8 weeks.  Any complaint should be submitted to us by letter.

18.3        If we do not deal with it within this timescale or you are unhappy with our response you may of course take the matter up with our professional body ICAEW and the Legal Ombudsman.  Complaints to the Legal Ombudsman should be made within six years of the act or omission or within three years of you becoming aware of the issue, and in either case within six months of our written response to your complaint to us.  The contact details for the Legal Ombudsman are:

Letter:  Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ
Email:  [email protected]
Tel:      0300 555 0333

19. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and Common Reporting Standards

19.1        Unless agreed specifically in a separate engagement letter, we are not responsible for your compliance with the International Tax Compliance (United States of America) Regulations 2013, produced as a result of FATCA.  In particular, we are not responsible for the categorisation of any UK entity into either a Financial Institution (FI) or an active or passive Non-Financial Foreign Entity (NFFE) nor, if a Financial Institution, for its registration with the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and subsequent submission of the required annual returns to HM Revenue & Customs.

19.2        However, if requested to do so we can provide advice on the completion of the forms supplied by Financial Institutions under these Regulations, or under Common Reporting Standards, and used by them to determine the status of an entity.  We can also provide advice on setting up the appropriate systems to identify and report on your clients or beneficiaries who are foreign citizens affected by FATCA or Common Reporting Standards.

20. Draft/interim Work or Oral Advice

20.1        In the course of our providing services to you we may provide advice or reports or other work products in draft or interim form, or orally. However, final written work products will always prevail over any draft, interim or oral statements. Where you request it, we will provide you with written confirmation of matters stated orally.

21. Interpretation

21.1        If any provision of our engagement letter or terms of business is held to be void for whatever reason, then that provision will be deemed not to form part of this contract, and no other provisions will be affected or impaired in any way. In the event of any conflict between these terms of business and the engagement letter or appendices, the relevant provision in the engagement letter or schedules will take precedence.

22. Internal Disputes Within a Client

22.1        If we become aware of a dispute between the parties who own the business, or who are in some way involved in its ownership and management, it should be noted that our client is the business (unless we have agreed otherwise) and we would not provide information or services to one party without the express knowledge and permission of all parties. Unless otherwise agreed by all parties, we will continue to supply information to the registered office/normal place of business for the attention of the directors/proprietors. If conflicting advice, information or instructions are received from different directors/principals in the business, we will refer the matter back to the board of directors/the partnership and take no further action until the board/partnership has agreed the action to be taken. In certain cases we reserve the right to cease acting for the business/client entirely.

23. Disengagement

23.1        If we resign or are asked to resign, we will normally issue a disengagement letter to ensure that our respective responsibilities are clear.

24. Intellectual Property Rights and Use of our Name

24.1        We will retain all intellectual property rights in any document prepared by us during the course of carrying out the engagement except where the law specifically states otherwise. You may only use such rights to the extent we agreed when engaged to provide services to you and may not resell or sublicense such rights without our further prior consent.

24.2        You are not permitted to use our name in any statement or document that you may issue unless our prior written consent has been obtained. The only exception to this restriction would be statements or documents that in accordance with applicable law are to be made public.