Increase in HMRC enquiries

In the new tax year HMRC will have new powers regarding “information requests” and “visits” in connection with certain aspects of your tax affairs, and in recent times there has been an increase in the number of clients whose tax returns are investigated or disputed, regardless of their size and income status.

As far as we are aware the purpose is to monitor the quality of accounting records and systems in support of future HMRC returns, however, it is possible that HMRC could raise a tax assessment or disagree with the tax treatment of certain aspects of your business or personal tax affairs as a result of such visits. Defending clients in these circumstances is an area in which we have considerable expertise but the costs can be extensive as enquiries or disputes can drag on for many months. Even if no additional tax is found to be due, clients or their business would be faced with additional fees incurred. 

To this end we have implemented a tax enquiry service supported by Taxwise Limited. This service protects clients from adverse costs incurred as a result of HMRC activity at a fixed manageable annual fee, and as a result, we can assist with the following events:

• attendance at any meeting with or dealing with any correspondence from HMRC
• Income & Corporation Tax Self Assessment Full & Aspect Enquiries, including Schedule 36 Intervention Notices
• Business Record Checks, VAT & Employer Compliance inspections (the actual meeting even prior to any possible disputes)
• BRC, VAT & Employer Compliance Disputes (PAYE/P11D/P9D/NIC/IR35/CIS)
• automatic private individual cover for all directors or partners and their spouses for their personal tax returns (as long as we complete their Tax Returns and they show no other self employed income).

This service offers clients peace of mind in ensuring that these additional costs are no longer charged to them. Please note that some costs will not be covered by this service, including the following:

• outstanding taxes, fines, penalties, interest or any amounts due to HMRC
• pre-existing enquiries or disputes & tax returns submitted outside statutory time limits ie: late returns
• the defence of criminal prosecutions and investigations
• routine compliance work i.e. fees incurred in respect of the routine presentation of a clients tax affairs.

As a further service enhancement for all clients taking up the comprehensive tax enquiry service, we have negotiated that Taxwise Limited now include a direct access telephone based Health & Safety Legislation and Employment Law Advisory Service.

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