Fees and Other Matters - Frequently Asked Questions

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Q. Is my accountant entitled to charge me for the first interview?
A. Unless the Chartered Accountant advertises that the initial interview for all new clients is free-of-charge, they are entitled to charge you for the interview. Fees are usually charged on a time basis and if you have occupied some of the accountant’s time, or staff time, a charge is justified. You may query the account if you were led to believe that your first meeting with the Chartered Accountant would be free, but if this type of arrangement was not mentioned specifically, you should expect to pay.

Q. Can my accountant charge me after I've discontinued the engagement?
A. Yes. The Chartered Accountant may have performed interim work since the end of the last period for which you received an account, up to the date you discontinued your relationship. If you haven’t already been provided with one you may request a detailed fee account for the final period from your Chartered Accountant including a description of the different services provided, the period to which they relate, the apportioned charges as well as any expenses being separately recovered.

It might also help to talk to your Chartered Accountant about the amount of the fee and the reasons for the charges involved.

Q. Can my former accountant use a debt collector to force me to pay fees, which I dispute?
A. Yes, accountants are entitled to exercise legal remedies to recover overdue fees.

Q. Is my accountant entitled to take fees from any tax refund that I am due?
A. The accountant is permitted to take fees from your tax refund cheque only after the following requirements have been satisfied:

You have been notified in writing of the amount of fees, and
You have agreed in writing to the fee being paid from the proceeds of your tax refund cheque.

If you have not given your Chartered Accountant written authority to negotiate your tax refund cheque, the cheque should be dispatched to you promptly, or dealt with in accordance with your instructions.

Q. Can I request a breakdown of the fees I’ve been charged?
A. Yes, you are entitled to receive an itemised account containing sufficient detail regarding the services charged for. The member should also convey in advance the billing arrangements and subsequent changes to billing or fee structures that may become applicable to the client.

Q. Is my accountant entitled to keep my documents until I pay their fees?
A. The member may be entitled to retain your documents subject to a lien (a form of security) until any outstanding fees have been settled. This type of matter is not always straightforward particularly in relation to what documents the lien is being exercised over and legal assistance may be required. You should expect however that when the fee dispute is resolved, the relevant documents would be released.