Tribunal decision following back duty investigation

The first tier tribunal recently dismissed appeals against discovery assessments raised in respect of undeclared sales. The case developed from an investigation under Code 9 (suspected serious fraud) and took some years to come to court. The case is also noteworthy because of a dispute between the taxpayers and the first accountants they approached who then appeared as witnesses for HMRC.

The husband and wife taxpayers carried on business making and selling quilt covers, initially in partnership, but later through two limited companies of which they were the shareholders and directors. The taxpayers had also inherited money in an offshore bank account – the interest on which had not been disclosed nor had any income related to the subsequent offshore investment of these funds.

In September 1998 HMRC wrote to the taxpayers concerning the 1997 tax returns for the two companies asking for details of any monies invested by the directors and whether any of the directors either directly or indirectly had had any dealings with any overseas company or overseas trust. The taxpayers approached a firm of accountants who ascertained that cash takings had been invested offshore and that there was a potential undeclared liability to tax of almost £100k plus over £50k of interest accumulated over 24 years. The taxpayers and accountants fell out.

In April 1999 a ‘Hansard’ meeting was held between representatives of HMRC’s Special Compliance Office and the taxpayers and their new accountant. Two disclosure reports were then prepared and submitted. The first was dismissed by HMRC as inadequate although the second one also excluded any reference to undeclared cash sales.

In December 2002 HMRC raised assessments to tax the alleged undeclared income. The assessments covered the years ended 5 April 1983 through to 5 April 2001. The taxpayers appealed and the tribunal was hearing appeals against the closure notices issued by HMRC in 2004.

Delays then ensued in part through the taxpayers’ delays in producing information and partly due to the husband’s ill health. The tribunal considered that in the particular circumstances of this case the length of the investigation was not so excessive as to be unreasonable.

The tribunal upheld the discovery assessments as the taxpayers had failed to prove on the balance of probabilities that the assessments were excessive.

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Case Studies

The Tax Man

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Business Valuation in Distress

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FD in The Cupboard

Our innovative ideas are here to improve your business performance and secure appropriate and cost effective funding

The Tax Man

The Tax Man

A new client was introduced to us via a recommendation with whom we arranged to meet on a regular basis in order to determine a number of changes that we felt were needed to their business structure. The client was at the time operating as a husband and wife partnership. The business was flourishing and had a number of large contracts with big organisations.

At the start of the process they were still heavily immersed in their day to day operations so we can get a full flavour for their ambitions, aspirations and growth plans. We quickly recognised there were sufficient tax savings which can be achieved by changing the structure from a partnership to a corporate entity. We carried out a business valuation and disposed of the goodwill from the old to the new business. Unfortunately, as often is the case with efficient tax planning, HMRC got involved and disputed our valuation.

An HMRC investigation can be a very stressful time for any client, even for those best prepared. However, our client had minimal input in the HMRC communication as we dealt with this professionally behind the scene. As an added benefit, our client could rest on the security that all work was covered by insurance and therefore all costs and time in dealing with this enquiry were covered by the fee protection policy we had put in place.

The initial approach taken by HMRC was very aggressive and they tried to present an argument that there was no goodwill in the business. We challenged HMRC’s view that the goodwill was worthless. After lengthy correspondence and numerous telephone calls, HMRC agreed 100% with our original valuation, which preserved our original tax saving plan for the client. Tax savings on this case where in the region of £75K at the outset, with ongoing savings of £6,000 per annum. We are pleased to add another happy client to our portfolio.

Business Valuation in Distress

Business Valuation in Distress

Selling a business is never an easy process, but when disputes arise, the need for a reliable third party due diligence process is even greater.

Tearle & Carver have extensive understanding of the requirements for remaining objective when managing a potentially difficult company buyout. In one such case, we were approached by the courts to act as independent accountant for an acrimonious business sale in which one partner was exiting the business and selling shares to the other. Given the circumstances, both sides had totally polar views of what their business was worth.

After arranging an initial meeting with the company, we were thorough in ensuring we completed due diligence, validating the figures in the accounting records, carrying out adjustments where appropriate, and drafting a set of reliable management figures within the framework required by the court.

A draft version of the report detailing our findings and conclusions was submitted to both parties, giving them the opportunity to voice any queries or concerns and ensure all relevant factors had been taken into account.

Through this process, we were able to submit a final report to the courts that was both binding and acceptable to both parties, effectively resolving what could otherwise have been a time consuming and costly process for all sides.

FD in The Cupboard

FD in The Cupboard

For smaller companies, it is often not possible or cost effective to pay for a full-time Financial Director.
Many of our clients therefore make use of Tearle & Carver’s extensive expertise to provide the services of an FD as and when required.

In this case, we were approached by the management team of an organisation looking to acquire the existing business via an MBO (Management buy out). Their business plan had proved ineffective for securing funding, and what they needed was financial expertise from someone with a developed understanding of the company’s internal workings.

Tearle & Carver helped deliver the solution our clients were looking through utilising our bank contacts in order to make the MBO viable, while also building a robust business plan and preparing our client for the rigorous vetting process. To help with cash flow issues, we introduced factoring which led to improved cash flow management.

We advised on the appropriate business valuation and structure, and continued to prepare monthly accounts to track profgress once the management were fully in command of all the information they needed to move their business forward.

In order to best assist these clients through the crucial first year of ownership, we attended board meetings on a regular basis, a service that we continue to provide to date.

With our continually developing understanding of their business, this client is able to remain confident that Tearle & Carver can provide any financial support they may need, now and in the future.