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I’ve done nothing wrong, why should I worry about a tax enquiry?

Most tax enquiries are generated by computer “risk profiling” and many are selected completely at random. As a result, HMRC sometimes picks the wrong targets. Even if you have done nothing wrong, the taxman will not give up and will still try hard to find errors.

 

Can anyone’s tax affairs be scrutinised by HM Revenue & Customs?

Anyone who submits a tax return can come under scrutiny. Every year, HMRC start enquiries into many thousands of personal and business tax returns and accounts. VAT and PAYE payments are also thoroughly checked. The aim in every case is to collect more tax. HMRC has raised an extra £9 billion over the last three years and in 2012/13 the number of tax investigations increased from 119,000 to over 237,000 – in just one year.

I need to reduce my spending in the current economic climate

Not paying the annual cost could be a false economy. The potentially high costs of defending you in an enquiry would be much less affordable than the small annual charge. One thing is certain – HMRC does not stop making enquiries into tax returns when there is an economic downturn. The amount of debt the government is in at present is only likely to increase the potential threat of an investigation!

I don’t think I need protection

Like any other protection to meet an unexpected cost, everyone hopes that they don’t need it but when a costly enquiry starts, clients are glad that they’ve paid the small annual charge.

I’ve already got some protection through a trade subscription or policy. e.g. FSB

Such cover will normally be limited and not as wide ranging as the practice service. Such policies may not pay our fees to look after you and may instead bring in an outside consultant who doesn’t know you.

How much could a tax enquiry cost me in professional fees?

The questions asked by HMRC are usually very detailed and time-consuming to answer. The costs of defending you can easily run into thousands of pounds, even if little or no extra tax is paid at the end of the enquiry. These costs are not protected by the normal annual fees paid to us.

Is there anything I can do for peace of mind?

You can subscribe to our Tax Investigation Service which will protect you for the work and costs of defending you in the event of a tax enquiry by HMRC.

 

What is a Tax Investigation Service?

It is a Service set up by us in conjunction with Professional Fee Protection (PFP) to protect clients who suffer a tax enquiry. For a small annual fee, you can join our Service and obtain the benefits described on the reverse of this sheet. The Service is backed by an insurance policy that the practice has arranged through Professional Fee Protection. When you subscribe to our service we are able to make a claim against our insurance policy held with PFP in respect of our fees incurred.