Accountant absconded

[NSQ]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help us...

We have an apartment in Sofia which, for the majority of its life has been empty and more recently, has been rented out. The problem is that our accountant in Bulgaria has moved to America rather suddenly and without warning. Our new accountant needs the cash flow documents etc to file the tax returns for last year, the problem is our old accountant has the documentation and is not responding to our messages. We have online bank statements detailing rental income accrued and costs incurred (more costs than rental income so far) but none of the physical documentation that the new accountant requires. He says that he cannot provide any kind of tax return without these documents and we have no access to them. Where do we go from here? Surely, there is some mechanism in place for eventualities such as this. We know that documents have been filed up until 2012 (independently checked) but we do not know what these documents consist of.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[totallyproperty]

Hi NSQ

First of all, welcome to the forum although I am sorry to hear it is under such circumstances.

Perhaps your first port of call should be to contact the "association of accountants" if there is such an official body in Bulgaria who should be able to advise you. If you are upfront and honest with the tax authorities they may also be able to advise you about the next move as I very much doubt you will be the only person to have suffered in this manner.

 

[totallyproperty]

I have just found the website for the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Bulgaria:-

About Us

not sure how much help they might be as the website has not been updated for some time but may lead you to another area for help.

Mark

 

[NSQ]

Thanks Mark, all ideas are very much appreciated.

 

[totallyproperty]

Hi NSQ

I would be interested to hear how you get on if you don't mind?

Regards,

Mark

 

[totallyproperty]

Hi NSQ

I would be interested to hear how you get on if you don't mind?

Regards,

Mark

 

[NSQ]

Update

So far the Associations of Accountants haven't replied, the NRA has said 'call the police about your missing documents' (unlikely to help),two accountants have said they can't do anything (well one said they couldn't do anything and the other just stopped responding to messages once they realized it was a complicated issue). As it stands we are in a position where we cannot file tax returns ever! So I assume we will just get fined every year as we will never have the documentation!

 

[totallyproperty]

Hi NSQ

I am sorry to hear about your situation - let me have another look and see if I can help in any way.

Regards,


Mark

 

[NSQ]

Sorted

All sorted now. It seems that the majority of accountants we found wanted the simple, ease life and not to have to do any extra thinking/work. We had to pay a bit more but go it sorted in the end - if anyone has a similar problem I can put them in contact with the accountants/tax specialists we used.