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These Terms & Conditions support the DNS Client Agreement and apply to all services provided by dns accountants pinksalt Ltd (“DNS”, “we”, “us”, “our”) to the Client (“you”, “your”). They should be read together with the Client Agreement. Schedule 1 (Misc Charges) and Schedule 2 (Client Information Deadlines) form part of these Terms.
dns accountants pinksalt Ltd is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and must comply with ICAEW regulations, its Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation (PCRT). DNS also has legal and regulatory obligations under UK law, including anti-money laundering and data protection laws. If our duties to regulators or under professional rules conflict with your instructions, our professional obligations, our regulatory duties take priority.
Our services are strictly limited to those listed in the Client Agreement and any attached schedules. DNS does not provide statutory audit services unless explicitly agreed in writing, and we do not provide FCA-regulated investment advice, legal advice, immigration advice or insolvency practitioner services.
DNS may use group companies, affiliates or subcontractors to deliver services, including outsourced teams. DNS remains responsible for overall service delivery under the Client Agreement.
The Client must provide complete, accurate and timely information, records and explanations necessary for DNS to carry out the agreed services. The Client is responsible for maintaining proper accounting records, internal controls and compliance with all legal obligations. DNS may rely on information supplied by the Client.
We may provide generic tax advice and support in relation to your tax affairs from time to time. However, for comprehensive or advanced tax planning, you may be introduced to specialist advisers, and any engagement with them will be on a separate basis between you and them.
Tax planning has inherent risks, including the risk of changes in tax laws, HMRC practice or the way rules are interpreted and applied. We can only advise on the position at the time the advice is given. You should assess the risks of following any proposed structures with a long-term view in mind and understand that the position may change over time.
We will endeavour to record advice on important matters in writing. Any advice given orally (including in meetings or by telephonea or video call) is not intended to be relied upon unless confirmed in writing. If you wish to be able to rely on oral advice, you must ask us to confirm that advice in writing.
Clients must provide information in line with Schedule 2. Failure to provide information in sufficient time may mean DNS cannot complete work before deadlines, or must work under significant time pressure and with limited review. DNS pricing for fixed-term packages assumes onboarding, systems, compliance processes and readiness to act.
The fact that no accounting, tax or compliance work has been carried out (for example because the Client did not trade, remained dormant or failed to supply information) does not entitle the Client to a refund, discount or non-payment of fees. Fixed-term subscription fees remain payable even where no returns or accounts are ultimately filed.
DNS may correct under-billing or missed billing for services properly provided under the Client Agreement. As a general rule, corrections will be limited to the preceding 12 months, unless under-billing arises from late, incomplete or incorrect information from the Client, in which case a longer period may apply. Any overcharge will be corrected promptly.
Fees and payment terms are defined in the Client Agreement. Failure to pay may result in suspension of services, additional administration charges, interest and transfer to a debt recovery agency. If a third-party debt collector is used, the Client may be liable for reasonable recovery costs as permitted by law.
Fees will be adjusted annually based on the RPI rate in England, with 30 days notice.
DNS will provide services with reasonable care and skill. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law. Subject to that, DNS will not be liable for penalties, interest, surcharges, additional tax, compliance checks, enquiries or other adverse consequences arising from (a) late, incomplete or changing information provided by the Client; or (b) accounts, returns or other filings prepared or submitted under time pressure because information, explanations or approvals were provided close to deadlines, provided that DNS has acted with reasonable care and skill in the circumstances.
Our combined liability under this Agreement, regardless of cause, will not exceed the Fees paid by you in the previous 12 months.
DNS work is prepared solely for the Client. No third party may rely on DNS reports, accounts or letters without DNS’s prior written consent. DNS accepts no responsibility or liability to third parties who rely on our work without consent.
DNS retains all intellectual property rights in its working papers, templates, methodologies, software tools and know-how. The Client is granted a non-exclusive licence to use the reports, accounts, tax returns and other deliverables provided by DNS for its own internal purposes and to meet its legal and regulatory obligations. The Client must not resell, publish or permit third parties to rely on DNS work without DNS’s prior written consent, except where this is clearly required for the agreed purpose (for example filing with HMRC or Companies House).
DNS will treat Client information as confidential, subject to legal and regulatory obligations and normal use of outsourced and cloud services. Data protection practices are set out in our Privacy Policy, available on our website http://dnspinksalt.co.uk/privacy-policy.
DNS may communicate with the Client by email, phone, online portal or other electronic means. The Client accepts that electronic communications may carry inherent risks and absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
DNS must complete AML and Know Your Customer (KYC) checks before starting work and may be required to report suspicious activities without notifying the Client. DNS will not be liable for delays caused by AML requirements. DNS does not normally hold client money. If we agree to hold money on your behalf, it will be kept in a separate client bank account in accordance with applicable professional rules (including ICAEW Clients’ Money Regulations where relevant).
Company and LLP clients must notify DNS in writing within 7 days of any change in directors, members, partners, persons with significant control or beneficial owners and provide any reasonable KYC information DNS requests in respect of new or existing individuals.
If you do not provide such information when requested, or if DNS considers that continuing to act would create an unacceptable risk, DNS may suspend some or all services or terminate the Agreement on written notice. Suspension or termination under this clause does not remove the Client’s obligation to pay agreed fees, including for any fixed term packages.
The Client must not solicit or employ DNS staff or contractors involved in providing services for a period of 24 months after they cease working for DNS without DNS’s prior consent. Breach of this clause may result in a compensation payment of £20,000, without prejudice to further remedies.
DNS will not be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under the Client Agreement to the extent that the delay or failure is caused by events beyond DNS’s reasonable control. These may include (for example) failures of HMRC or Companies House systems, widespread internet or IT outages, power cuts, strikes, industrial action, pandemics, government restrictions, natural disasters, war or terrorism. DNS will take reasonable steps to minimise the impact and resume normal service as soon as reasonably practicable.
DNS may terminate the Agreement by giving one (1) month’s written notice. DNS may terminate immediately where fees remain unpaid, information is withheld, relationships have irretrievably broken down, or where professional or regulatory obligations require cessation, or trust has broken down.
If the Client is an individual acting outside their business (a consumer) and the Agreement is concluded at a distance or off-premises, a 14-day cooling-off period may apply. If the Client asks DNS to start work within the cooling-off period and then cancels, fees for work performed up to cancellation remain payable.
DNS may update these Terms from time to time, for example to reflect changes in law, regulation, professional rules or our business processes. For business clients, DNS may do this by publishing the updated Terms on its website and notifying the Client by email or via the client portal. If a business client continues to use the services after receiving such notice, the business client will be deemed to have accepted the updated Terms. For consumer clients, DNS will only make changes that are required by law, clearly beneficial or reasonably necessary and proportionate, and will give reasonable notice of any such changes.
Complaints should be raised with the usual DNS contact. If unresolved, they may be escalated by emailing feedback@dnsaccountants.co.uk where the feedback team, which includes senior managers responsible for complaints and compliance, will investigate. If unresolved, the matter may be referred to ICAEW.
Where the Client is a Limited Company or LLP, any individual who signs the Client Agreement on behalf of the Client also signs in their personal capacity and personally guarantees the Client’s obligations to DNS, as stated in the Client Agreement.
This personal responsibility is continuing and is not affected by any change in the Client’s directors, members, partners, shareholders, ownership or control, or by the Client’s insolvency, administration, liquidation, striking-off or dissolution.
For the avoidance of doubt, if you signed the Client Agreement in your capacity as a director, member or partner of the Client, ceasing to be a director, member or partner at a later date does not, by itself, release you from personal responsibility for sums arising under the Agreement, unless and until DNS expressly confirms in writing that your personal responsibility is discharged.
DNS may assign or transfer its rights under the Client Agreement (including the right to receive payment of fees) to another DNS group company or to a third party such as a debt collection agency. The Client may not assign or transfer its rights or obligations under the Client Agreement without DNS’s prior written consent. No person other than DNS and the Client has any rights to enforce any term of the Client Agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. If any provision of these Terms or the Client Agreement is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, that provision will be treated as modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect. Formal notices under the Client Agreement may be given by hand, by post or by email to the last contact details notified by each party. Notices sent by email will be treated as received 24 hours after sending (provided no bounce-back is received). Notices sent by post will be treated as received two business days after posting within the UK, or five business days after posting internationally.
Misc Charges
The following charges apply where triggered. All amounts are exclusive of VAT.
These charges are designed to cover the additional admin time and are unavoidable if such situation arises or happens.
Client Information Deadlines
Unless agreed otherwise in writing, clients must provide information by the following timelines:
Late submission may result in urgent work charges or DNS declining to submit returns or filings where there is insufficient time to do so safely and properly. The Client remains responsible for all penalties, interest, surcharges, additional tax and any compliance checks, enquiries or other adverse consequences arising from late, incomplete or changing information, even where DNS has used reasonable endeavours to submit work on time.