Our Approach, Broken Down

Understand

We begin by understanding how the client’s business actually operates, including the transactions, contracts, systems and commercial relationships underlying the tax position.

Analyse

We examine the relevant legislation, HMRC guidance, case law and supporting evidence to establish the appropriate technical treatment.

Quantify

Where historic periods are involved, we reconstruct the financial position and determine the correct liability, repayment or potential exposure.

Evidence

A technical position is only as strong as the evidence supporting it. We therefore identify and assemble the documentation required to substantiate the client’s case.

Engage

Where HMRC is involved, we manage the technical correspondence, respond to enquiries and challenge conclusions where further representations are justified.

Deliver

Our focus remains on achieving the best technically defensible and commercially meaningful outcome for the client.

More Than Tax Recovery

While recovering overpaid tax represents an important part of our work, some of our most valuable engagements do not result in a repayment at all.

Sometimes the value lies in preventing an incorrect liability from arising.

For us, success is measured by the financial and commercial outcome delivered to the client.

Our work has helped clients:

  • recover substantial amounts of historic VAT
  • reduce significant HMRC assessments
  • eliminate proposed tax liabilities
  • successfully challenge technical interpretations
  • mitigate or suspend penalties
  • correct historic VAT treatment
  • resolve long-running HMRC enquiries
  • protect cash flow through negotiated settlements
  • strengthen their VAT position going forward

Experience That Matters

Nearly two decades of specialist work has exposed our team to a wide range of complex tax issues, industries and commercial structures.

That experience means we are often able to identify questions, risks and opportunities that may not be apparent from the accounting records alone.

It also allows us to approach HMRC matters with an understanding of both the technical issue and the practical process required to resolve it.

Our philosophy has remained consistent since 2007: Understand the commercial reality. Establish the correct technical position. Build the evidence. Pursue the best defensible outcome for the client.