HMRC Enquiries & Investigations
From Panic to Plan. A HMRC enquiry can feel like a sudden storm, letters with short deadlines, complex demands, and the risk of penalties or prosecution. We bring calm, clarity, and control from day one. Whether it’s a simple one-liner or a full COP9 investigation, we lead the process and protect your position.
"We take the lead in negotiating with HMRC, using deep insight into their internal processes to secure outcomes and minimise penalties."
What We Cover:
Responding to tax investigation letters
We draft and manage professional responses to HMRC enquiries, ensuring your reply is accurate, proportionate, and strategically aligned to protect your position.
Managing COP8 / COP9 cases
We guide you through complex serious fraud investigations, from securing immunity under CDF, to drafting full reports and engaging HMRC with credibility.
Handling tax evasion suspicions and serious fraud
Where HMRC suspects deliberate wrongdoing, we protect your interests, challenge assumptions, and provide robust counter-narratives supported by evidence and case law.
Handling cross-tax investigations (VAT, Employment Tax, Corporation Tax)
We coordinate responses across multiple tax streams, whether it’s simultaneous enquiries into Corporation Tax, VAT, and PAYE, or joint visits, ensuring consistency, compliance, and control at every stage.
Challenging procedural overreach (Schedule 36, scope creep)
We review HMRC’s requests for legal validity and proportionality, pushing back where requests are excessive, speculative or outside their remit, stopping “fishing expeditions” in their tracks.
Settling historic avoidance schemes
From EBTs and film schemes to disguised remuneration, we negotiate strategic exits that manage tax, interest, and penalties while protecting reputation.
Supporting sports professionals and entertainers
We act discreetly for public figures facing disputes over image rights, dual representation, or agent fees, protecting income and brand integrity.
Defending technical positions
We prepare detailed technical submissions to justify tax treatments, drawing on case law, statutory interpretation, and HMRC’s own guidance to reinforce your position.
Negotiating Time to Pay (TTP) arrangements
Where liabilities arise, we liaise directly with HMRC to secure pragmatic, affordable payment plans, helping preserve cash flow and avoid enforcement action, especially in sensitive enquiry situations.
HMRC settlements
We take the lead in negotiating with HMRC, using deep insight into their internal processes to secure outcomes and minimise penalties.