How Much PI Insurance Does an Accountant Need?

12. Audit-specific PI considerations
Required levels of professional indemnity insurance
Other Types of Small Business Insurance for an Accountant
Does PI cover audit claims?

12. Audit-specific PI considerations

Public liability insurance for accountants is another important cover to consider, protecting your business in the event someone is injured (or their property damaged) as a result of a mistake you make. Aside from these two important pieces of cover, there are a number of other forms of insurance for accountants you should consider. Rated 4.8 stars from 351 customer reviews at Google Employers' liability insuranceIf your accountancy practice has employees, employers' liability insurance is essential cover. It protects against allegations of injury or illness suffered by employees in the course of their employment with you. Legally, you are required to hold a minimum of £5m worth of cover (we provide £10m cover as standard), and it should be arranged for anyone who works for you - including temporary or casual staff.

2. Who you do it for (your clients)

If your accountancy practice has employees, employers' liability insurance is essential cover. Legal expenses insuranceLegal expenses insurance covers a wide range of legal costs and expenses that could be incurred in the course of your business - including contract disputes, tax enquiries, attending jury service, debt recovery, personal injury, as well as any award you are required to pay following an employment dispute with an employee. Legal expenses insurance covers a wide range of legal costs and expenses that could be incurred in the course of your business - including contract disputes, tax enquiries, attending jury service, debt recovery, personal injury, as well as any award you are required to pay following an employment dispute with an employee. Directors and officers insuranceIf your accountancy firm operates as a limited company, you may wish to consider directors and officers insurance. It protects you in your capacity as a director or officer of the company against against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you.

Professional Body Requirements

Cover is also provided to defend you against disqualification as a director, investigations and extradition proceedings. If your accountancy firm operates as a limited company, you may wish to consider directors and officers insurance. Office insuranceIf you own a premises, office insurance covers your office buildings, contents and computer equipment against accidental damage (including theft) whilst on your bet gambling bonus app business premises. In addition, you can insure portable business equipment (such as laptops and mobile phones) on a worldwide basis, and protect your business against loss of income or additional trading expenses with business interruption insurance. If you own a premises, office insurance covers your office buildings, contents and computer equipment against accidental damage (including theft) whilst on your business premises. Professional indemnity insurance for accountants covers the cost of defending your business against allegations of professional negligence (such as giving your client incorrect or wrongful advice). If your defence should be unsuccessful, it also covers the cost of damages awarded against you. Making a mistake in a piece of work could cause a financial loss to your client, and they may take legal action against you to recover their losses.

Insurance requirements can be stipulated in the Articles of Association for limited companies.
Shareholders' agreements may mandate specific Directors' and Officers' Liability cover levels.
Bank loans or financing agreements often require asset and key person insurance as collateral.
Landlord lease agreements frequently require tenants to have Public Liability insurance.

This cover is crucial when it comes to protecting accountants. It’s generally considered essential protection for accountants and is usually a requirement of your regulatory body or membership association. See our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section below to learn more about how AAC, ATTA and CIMA requirements can affect the type of cover you should be applying for. In the meantime, here are some examples of claims that accountants’ professional indemnity insurance could protect against: Failing to inform a client that their business has breached the VAT threshold Failing to properly prepare and file end of year accounts Providing incorrect advice regarding a company structure Professional indemnity Insurance for accountants is available with limits ranging from £50,000 to £5m. Starting at £5 per month* (depending on your business requirements), arranging accountants insurance with Markel Direct is fast and easy.

Insurance policies must be reviewed annually to ensure they meet updated legal minimums.
Notify your insurer immediately if your business activities change to avoid invalidating cover.
Keep all insurance certificates and policy documents accessible for inspection by authorities.
Use a broker specializing in your industry to navigate complex minimum requirement landscapes.

Our simple quote form will collect a few details about your business and provide you with a quotation for a range of covers.

Practice Size (by staff)	Minimum Limit per Occurrence	Aggregate Limit	Typical Annual Premium Range (GBP)
Sole Practitioner	GBP 2,000,000	GBP 5,000,000	250 - 500
2-5 Staff	GBP 5,000,000	GBP 10,000,000	500 - 1,200
6-20 Staff	GBP 10,000,000	GBP 20,000,000	1,200 - 3,000
21+ Staff	Case-by-case assessment	Case-by-case assessment	3,000+

You can then select which covers you want to include in your policy, ensuring you only ever pay for the cover you want and no unnecessary extras. There are no hidden fees or cancellation charges when you arrange cover with Markel Direct, and you can spread the cost of your policy over 10 interest free instalments. Professional indemnity insurance for accountants is often considered a priority. It pays for your legal fees as well as any compensation which you may be liable for in the event of an allegation of professional negligence. Public liability insurance for accountants is another important cover to consider, protecting your business in the event someone is injured (or their property damaged) as a result of a mistake you make. Aside from these two important pieces of cover, there are a number of other forms of insurance for accountants you should consider.

Type of Breach	Potential ACCA Action	Practice Implications	Rectification Period
No valid insurance in place	Suspension of practising certificate	Cannot undertake public practice work	Immediate
Inadequate policy limits	Formal warning, requirement to upgrade	Risk of non-compliant status with clients	30 days
Lack of required policy features	Directive to amend policy	Coverage gaps may leave firm exposed	60 days
Failure to provide evidence	Administrative fine, investigation	Delays in certificate renewal	14 days
Misrepresentation on application	Disciplinary proceedings, possible expulsion	Severe reputational damage	N/A

Rated 4.8 stars from 351 customer reviews at Google Employers' liability insuranceIf your accountancy practice has employees, employers' liability insurance is essential cover.

Required levels of professional indemnity insurance

1.1 Statutory and quasi-statutory roles

Cyber and data risks insurance is an important cover that protects against the costs involved with a cyber attack, including: It covers your defence costs, as well as any damages you are liable to pay third parties. Public and product liability insurancePublic and product liability insurance provides cover if someone is injured, or their property damaged, in the course of conducting your accountancy business. This could be, for example, if a visitor to your office were to slip on a wet floor, or if you were to accidentally damage a client's laptop during a meeting (e.g. It covers the legal costs involved with defending your business, as well as any compensation that may be due to third parties. Public and product liability insurance provides cover if someone is injured, or their property damaged, in the course of conducting your accountancy business.

Pro Members – £300k Cover

Do accountants need professional indemnity insurance?PI insurance for accountants is a vital component of any accountancy insurance package for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’ll pay your legal fees if you’re accused of professional negligence, and it’ll also cover any compensation you may be liable for. Secondly, accountants professional indemnity insurance is a requirement of most accountancy regulatory bodies or membership associations, so if you don’t have in place, you’re unlikely to be able to sign up. PI insurance for accountants is a vital component of any accountancy insurance package for a number of reasons. What are the AAT insurance requirements?The AAT's require licence holders to hold professional indemnity insurance which:is on an 'any one claim' basisincludes civil liability coveris fully retroactiveThe limit of professional indemnity insurance the AAT require licence holders to hold is dependent on the firm's gross fee income, and:For sole traders, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of:2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or£50,000For partnerships, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of:2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or£100,000For limited companies, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of:2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or£100,000Additionally, if the gross fee income of your firm is greater than £400,000, the maximum level of cover required is £1,000,000.Please note this is provided for information purposes only and members should refer to the AAT website for full details. It protects against allegations of injury or illness suffered by employees in the course of their employment with you. Legally, you are required to hold a minimum of £5m worth of cover (we provide £10m cover as standard), and it should be arranged for anyone who works for you - including temporary or casual staff. If your accountancy practice has employees, employers' liability insurance is essential cover.

Public Liability insurance is not a legal minimum but is often required for contracts and leases.
Professional Indemnity insurance is a legal requirement for certain professions like financial advisors.
Motor insurance is a legal minimum for any company vehicles, with at least third-party cover.
Product Liability insurance may be required if you manufacture, supply, or repair goods.
Directors' and Officers' Liability insurance is not legally required but is critical for risk management.

Legal expenses insuranceLegal expenses insurance covers a wide range of legal costs and expenses that could be incurred in the course of your business - including contract disputes, tax enquiries, attending jury service, debt recovery, personal injury, as well as any award you are required to pay following an employment dispute with an employee.

Annual Client Turnover (GBP)	Minimum PII Limit (GBP)	Aggregate or Any One Claim?	Typical Excess (GBP)
Up to 500,000	500,000	Aggregate	1,000 - 2,500
500,001 - 2,000,000	1,000,000	Any One Claim	2,500 - 5,000
2,000,001 - 5,000,000	1,500,000	Any One Claim	5,000 - 7,500
5,000,001+	2,500,000+	Any One Claim	7,500+

Legal expenses insurance covers a wide range of legal costs and expenses that could be incurred in the course of your business - including contract disputes, tax enquiries, attending jury service, debt recovery, personal injury, as well as any award you are required to pay following an employment dispute with an employee. Directors and officers insuranceIf your accountancy firm operates as a limited company, you may wish to consider directors and officers insurance. It protects you in your capacity as a director or officer of the company against against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you. Cover is also provided to defend you against disqualification as a director, investigations and extradition proceedings. If your accountancy firm operates as a limited company, you may wish to consider directors and officers insurance. Office insuranceIf you own a premises, office insurance covers your office buildings, contents and computer equipment against accidental damage (including theft) whilst on your bet gambling bonus app business premises. In addition, you can insure portable business equipment (such as laptops and mobile phones) on a worldwide basis, and protect your business against loss of income or additional trading expenses with business interruption insurance. If you own a premises, office insurance covers your office buildings, contents and computer equipment against accidental damage (including theft) whilst on your business premises.

Other Types of Small Business Insurance for an Accountant

The AAT's require licence holders to hold professional indemnity insurance which: is on an 'any one claim' basis The limit of professional indemnity insurance the AAT require licence holders to hold is dependent on the firm's gross fee income, and: For sole traders, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of: 2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or For partnerships, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of: 2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or For limited companies, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of: 2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or Additionally, if the gross fee income of your firm is greater than £400,000, the maximum level of cover required is £1,000,000.

15.5 Bonding versus PI — the line in practice

Occupational personal accident insuranceOccupational personal accident insurance can provide you with a weekly payment in the event you are injured (resulting in temporary total disablement) in the course of your work (subject to a 14-day deferment period) and unable to work. Many self-employed professionals choose this cover to maintain a regular source of income should an unexpected accident at work happen.Additionally, it can provide you with a lump sum payment in the event of:- Loss of hearing- Loss of speech- Loss of limb(s)- Loss of sight- Permanent Disablement- Death Occupational personal accident insurance can provide you with a weekly payment in the event you are injured (resulting in temporary total disablement) in the course of your work (subject to a 14-day deferment period) and unable to work. Many self-employed professionals choose this cover to maintain a regular source of income should an unexpected accident at work happen. Additionally, it can provide you with a lump sum payment in the event of: Cyber and data risks insuranceCyber and data risks insurance is an important cover that protects against the costs involved with a cyber attack, including:restoring data and equipmentinforming clientsmeeting ransom demandsloss of your net profitIt covers your defence costs, as well as any damages you are liable to pay third parties. You may wish to consider this cover to protect against confidential information about your clients' finances being stolen from internet-connected devices. Cyber and data risks insurance is an important cover that protects against the costs involved with a cyber attack, including: It covers your defence costs, as well as any damages you are liable to pay third parties. Public and product liability insurancePublic and product liability insurance provides cover if someone is injured, or their property damaged, in the course of conducting your accountancy business. This could be, for example, if a visitor to your office were to slip on a wet floor, or if you were to accidentally damage a client's laptop during a meeting (e.g. It covers the legal costs involved with defending your business, as well as any compensation that may be due to third parties. Public and product liability insurance provides cover if someone is injured, or their property damaged, in the course of conducting your accountancy business. Do accountants need professional indemnity insurance?PI insurance for accountants is a vital component of any accountancy insurance package for a number of reasons.

Does PI cover audit claims?

Most accountancy associations (including the ACCA, AAT, CIMA and ICAS) require members to hold a minimum level of accountants’ professional indemnity insurance to protect you if a client alleges you have made a mistake in your work - such as not filing their accounts on time, making an error in a VAT return or providing poor advice in relation to a self-assessment. Our specialist accountants’ insurance can be tailored to provide cover however you need it, as well as giving you complementary access to a 24-hour legal advice helpline and legal hub for any business-related legal issues. Professional indemnity insurance for accountants covers the cost of defending your business against allegations of professional negligence (such as giving your client incorrect or wrongful advice). If your defence should be unsuccessful, it also covers the cost of damages awarded against you. Making a mistake in a piece of work could cause a financial loss to your client, and they may take legal action against you to recover their losses.

Why you need to keep insuring your past work with run-off cover

13.2 What PI does in a tax enquiry

Our simple quote form will collect a few details about your business and provide you with a quotation for a range of covers. You can then select which covers you want to include in your policy, ensuring you only ever pay for the cover you want and no unnecessary extras. There are no hidden fees or cancellation charges when you arrange cover with Markel Direct, and you can spread the cost of your policy over 10 interest free instalments. Professional indemnity insurance for accountants is often considered a priority. It pays for your legal fees as well as any compensation which you may be liable for in the event of an allegation of professional negligence. Firstly, it’ll pay your legal fees if you’re accused of professional negligence, and it’ll also cover any compensation you may be liable for. Secondly, accountants professional indemnity insurance is a requirement of most accountancy regulatory bodies or membership associations, so if you don’t have in place, you’re unlikely to be able to sign up. PI insurance for accountants is a vital component of any accountancy insurance package for a number of reasons.

For office-based businesses, minimum often includes EL, Public Liability, and contents insurance.
For construction contractors, minimum typically includes EL, Public Liability, and Contract Works insurance.
For consultants, minimum often includes Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance.
For retail businesses, minimum includes EL, Public Liability, and Product Liability insurance.
For hospitality, minimum includes EL, Public Liability, and Employers' Liability.

What are the AAT insurance requirements?The AAT's require licence holders to hold professional indemnity insurance which:is on an 'any one claim' basisincludes civil liability coveris fully retroactiveThe limit of professional indemnity insurance the AAT require licence holders to hold is dependent on the firm's gross fee income, and:For sole traders, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of:2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or£50,000For partnerships, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of:2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or£100,000For limited companies, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of:2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or£100,000Additionally, if the gross fee income of your firm is greater than £400,000, the maximum level of cover required is £1,000,000.Please note this is provided for information purposes only and members should refer to the AAT website for full details. The AAT's require licence holders to hold professional indemnity insurance which: is on an 'any one claim' basis The limit of professional indemnity insurance the AAT require licence holders to hold is dependent on the firm's gross fee income, and: For sole traders, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of: 2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or For partnerships, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of: 2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or For limited companies, the required professional indemnity limit is the higher of: 2.5 times the firm's gross fee income; or Additionally, if the gross fee income of your firm is greater than £400,000, the maximum level of cover required is £1,000,000.