Client Interest Policy

General client account

Subject to the circumstances set out in this policy, if we hold money for you in our general client account, we will pay you a gross sum in lieu of interest on any calculated amount above £50.

If, for religious or philosophical reasons you do not want to receive any interest, you must tell us in writing and we will respect your decision. In these circumstances we will not credit interest to your account so that you do not incur any unintended tax obligations or reporting requirements.

Interest will not be paid to you in the following circumstances:

•  if the amount calculated is £50 or less (for amounts below that sum, the administrative costs of dealing with the funds would exceed the interest due);
• on money held for payment of a professional disbursement and counsel, etc, has requested a delay in settlement;
• on any client money held in currencies other than GBP;
• on any advance from us to you into our general client account to fund a payment on your behalf;
• other than as may be required by the rules of professional practice; or
• if there is an agreement between us to contract out of the payment of interest, for example due to religious or philosophical reasons.

We will calculate the interest and pay it to you when your matter has been concluded or unless as otherwise requested.

In determining the period that interest is to be calculated, we look at the following:

• the period between the date when the relevant funds received by us clear our account;
• if we send funds electronically, the date when the funds are sent; or
• if we send funds by cheque, five days after a cheque is raised.

Separate designated client account

If we hold money for you in a separate designated client account on your behalf, we will account to you for all the interest earned on such account.

If any money is held on your behalf for a fixed term over a long period of time (eg rent deposit) in a separate designated client account, we will calculate and pay interest quarterly or as agreed with you or other third parties where applicable.

Interest rate and tax

We apply the rate of interest paid on an instant access current account offered by our bank, National Westminster Bank plc, over the period that interest is due.

We review our interest rates whenever our own bank changes its bank rate.

Interest on funds held in a client account is paid without any deduction of tax.  It is therefore your responsibility to inform HMRC, or relevant tax authority, of any amounts of interest you receive from us.