Last updated: 1 April 2025

1. Introduction

These terms of engagement (the “Terms”) apply to all services provided by MHC & Co Chartered Accountants Ltd (referred to as “we”, “us”, or “the firm”) to you, the client. By instructing us to provide services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you have any questions, please contact us before proceeding.

2. Our Services

We provide a range of accountancy, tax, bookkeeping, and advisory services. The specific services to be provided will be confirmed in an engagement letter or email correspondence. We will act in accordance with the professional standards set by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and applicable laws and regulations.

3. Your Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Provide us with complete, accurate, and timely information necessary for the performance of our services.
• Notify us promptly of any changes in your circumstances that may affect our work.
• Ensure that any information you provide is not misleading and that you have disclosed all relevant facts.
• Approve any tax returns, accounts, or other documents before submission and confirm that they are accurate.
• Pay our fees in accordance with the agreed terms.

We are not responsible for any loss or penalty arising from your failure to provide information or from the inaccuracy of information provided by you.

4. Fees and Payment

Our fees are usually quoted on a fixed-fee basis and are exclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise. For ongoing services, we will agree a regular billing schedule (e.g., monthly or quarterly). For one-off assignments, we will invoice upon completion. Fees are payable within 14 days of the invoice date. We reserve the right to charge interest on overdue accounts at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, and to suspend services until outstanding fees are paid.

Where additional work arises outside the scope of the original engagement, we will notify you and agree an additional fee before proceeding.

5. Confidentiality

We will treat all information we receive from you as confidential and will not disclose it to third parties except:

• As required by law or regulation (e.g., to HMRC, ICAEW, or under anti‑money laundering obligations).
• To our professional advisers or service providers who are bound by confidentiality obligations.
• With your explicit consent.

You agree that we may use your name as a client in our marketing materials, unless you request otherwise in writing.

6. Limitation of Liability

We will perform our services with reasonable skill and care in accordance with professional standards. However, our total liability to you (whether in contract, tort, or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with our services shall be limited to the amount of our professional fees paid by you in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or £1,000,000, whichever is lower.

We shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of business, or loss of opportunity, even if we were advised of the possibility of such losses. Nothing in these terms limits or excludes our liability for fraud, death, or personal injury caused by our negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

7. Data Protection

We will process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms. By engaging us, you confirm that you have read and understood that policy.

8. Anti-Money Laundering

We are required by law to carry out identity checks and maintain records to comply with anti-money laundering regulations. You agree to provide us with any identification documents we request, and you acknowledge that we may be required to report suspicious activity to the National Crime Agency without informing you.

9. Intellectual Property

All reports, working papers, and other materials we prepare in the course of our engagement remain our property. You may use them for your internal business purposes but may not reproduce or distribute them to third parties without our prior written consent, except where required by law.

10. Termination

Either party may terminate the engagement by giving written notice. On termination, you will remain liable for all fees for work carried out up to the date of termination. We will return any of your original documents to you, and you may request copies of our working papers (subject to any lien for unpaid fees).

11. Professional Indemnity Insurance

We maintain professional indemnity insurance in accordance with ICAEW requirements. Details are available upon request.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with them shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

13. Complaints

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please contact us in writing. We will acknowledge your complaint within five working days and aim to resolve it promptly. If we cannot resolve the matter, you may be entitled to refer it to the ICAEW or the Legal Ombudsman, as appropriate.

14. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes. Continued engagement after the change constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at info@mhcandco.co.uk.