HMRC VAT Investigation: Specialist Help

HMRC VAT Investigation:
Specialist Help

Need Help With A HMRC VAT Investigation?

If you’re the subject of an HMRC VAT investigation and need expert advice, we can help.

Our tax investigation specialists can recommend a variety of strategies and resources that can be used to relieve the stress you’re experiencing and bring an open VAT investigation to a close. These include:

Manage all interactions with HMRC on your behalf, meaning that you’ll have no direct contact with HMRC regarding your VAT investigation.

Appeal VAT assessments, penalties and interest that HMRC may seek to charge when concluding the case.

Represent you at First-Tier Tax Tribunal, should the appeal need to go to court.

Aiming to settle the matter without needing to go to court in the first instance, using Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Book Your Free Initial Consultation

Get in touch below to arrange your free initial consultation with a VAT investigation specialist:

Need HMRC VAT Investigation Help?

Book Your Free Initial Consultation

Get in touch below to arrange your free initial consultation with a VAT investigation specialist:

If you’re the subject of an HMRC VAT investigation and need expert advice, we can help.

Our VAT investigation specialists can recommend a variety of strategies and resources that can be used to relieve the stress you’re experiencing and bring an open VAT investigation to a close. These include:

• Manage all interactions with HMRC on your behalf, meaning that you’ll have no direct contact with HMRC regarding your VAT investigation.

• Appeal income VAT assessments, penalties and interest that HMRC may seek to charge when concluding the case.

• Represent you at First-Tier Tax Tribunal, should the appeal need to go to court.

• Aiming to settle the matter without needing to go to court in the first instance, using Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Firstly, What Is A VAT Investigation?

When HMRC wants to check that someone’s VAT is in order, it will usually do so using a VAT enquiry – or sometimes a more significant VAT investigation.

VAT enquiries usually aren’t undertaken at random; HMRC usually conducts a VAT investigation because it believes that there may have been an underpayment of tax.

If you’ve received a notification from HMRC, informing you that you are under investigation then seek professional help as soon as possible. At T M Sterling we offer a free initial consultation, so this may be a good place to start – we can detail your options and identify a solid plan of action moving forwards.

What Is An HMRC VAT Investigation?

When HMRC wants to check that someone’s VAT is in order, it will usually do so using a VAT enquiry – or a more significant VAT investigation.

VAT enquiries usually aren’t undertaken at random; HMRC usually conducts a VAT investigation because it believes that there may have been an underpayment of tax.

If you’ve received a notification from HMRC, informing you that you are under investigation then seek professional help as soon as possible. At T M Sterling we offer a free initial consultation, so this may be a good place to start – we can detail your options and identify a solid plan of action moving forwards.

What If I Know That I Have VAT Irregularities?

If HMRC is investigating your VAT position and you know that you have irregularities in your taxes, this should be addressed with the help of a professional.

VAT enquiries can quickly snowball into more serious investigations, covering more VAT quarters and more types of tax. HMRC has the power to go back up to 20-years when trying to uncover tax issues in certain circumstances. A VAT investigation specialist will be able to manage the situation and recommend the best way of dealing with matters. For example, we’re able to secure immunity from criminal prosecution if we feel that it’s required.

If you’re concerned about criminal prosecution, or simply need to know your options, please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What If I know That I Have VAT Irregularities?

If HMRC is investigating your finances and you know that you have VAT irregularities, this should be addressed with the help of a professional.

VAT enquiries can quickly snowball into more serious investigations, covering more VAT periods and more types of tax. HMRC has the power to go back up to 20-years when trying to uncover tax issues in certain circumstances. A VAT investigation specialist will be able to manage the situation properly and recommend the best way of dealing with the issues. For example, we’re able to secure immunity from criminal prosecution if we feel that it’s necessary.

If you’re concerned about criminal prosecution, or simply need to know your options, please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

HMRC VAT Investigations: The First-Tier Tax Tribunal 

The First-Tier Tax Tribunal is an independent court that we routinely use to overturn decisions made by HMRC. Approaching the First-Tier Tax Tribunal can offer an effective course of action during and following a VAT investigation.

For example, if you have cooperated with HMRC throughout your VAT investigation, but HMRC has raised a penalty that you feel to be excessive, then we can challenge a VAT penalty at First-Tier Tax Tribunal. 

The First-Tier Tax Tribunal can also be used to appeal a VAT assessment itself.  This takes the final decision out of HMRC’s hands and could see your VAT assessment(s), VAT penalties and interest charges dismissed.

HMRC VAT Investigations: The First-Tier Tax Tribunal

The First-Tier Tax Tribunal is an independent court that we routinely use to overturn decisions made by HMRC. Approaching the First-Tier Tax Tribunal can offer an effective course of action during and following a VAT investigation.

For example, if you have cooperated with HMRC throughout your VAT investigation, but HMRC has raised a penalty that you feel to be excessive, then we can challenge a VAT penalty at First-Tier Tax Tribunal. 

The First-Tier Tax Tribunal can also be used to appeal a VAT assessment itself.  This takes the final decision out of HMRC’s hands and could see your VAT assessment(s), VAT penalties and interest charges dismissed.

What Information Do I Need When Undergoing A VAT Investigation?

Firstly, just because HMRC asks for information, it doesn’t mean that you should necessarily provide it. Information and documents generally fall into two categories: statutory and non-statutory.

Statutory information is that which you are required to provide by law, and can be legally demanded by HMRC. Non-statutory information is that which the law doesn’t require you to provide, but would simply be of interest to HMRC – you are not required to provide this.

However, to defend your position, you’ll want to have as much information to hand as possible. This commonly includes details of income and expenditure – such as purchase invoices, sales invoices and bank account statements.

It goes without saying that the more information you have, the stronger your position will be. Having access to detailed and accurate information will greatly assist you or your adviser in successfully defending against a VAT investigation.

To discuss the information that you have available, or information that HMRC has requested, please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

We Can Help You: Expert Advice…

We help clients just like you to overcome all manner of complex tax problems – such as defending against an HMRC VAT investigation.

During your free initial consultation, our specialists will build an understanding of your case and formulate a strong plan of action to resolve the issues you’re facing.

Free consultations are offered on a first-come-first-served basis. Please call us now: 01656 508461 or click the button below to book a call.

Tax Investigation Help

What Information Do I Need When Undergoing A VAT Investigation?

Firstly, just because HMRC asks for information, it doesn’t mean that you should necessarily provide it. Information and documents generally fall into two categories: statutory and non-statutory.

Statutory information is that which you are required to provide by law, and can be legally demanded by HMRC. Non-statutory information is that which the law doesn’t require you to provide, but would simply be of interest to HMRC – you are not required to provide this.

However, to defend your position, you’ll want to have as much information to hand as possible. This commonly includes details of income and expenditure – such as purchase invoices, sales invoices and bank account statements.

It goes without saying that the more information you have, the stronger your position will be. Having access to detailed and accurate information will greatly assist you or your adviser in successfully defending against a VAT investigation.

To discuss the information that you have available, or information that HMRC has requested, please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

We Can Help You: Expert Advice…

Tax Investigation Help

We help clients just like you to overcome all manner of complex tax problems – such as defending against HMRC VAT investigations.

During your free initial consultation, our specialists will build an understanding of your case and formulate a strong plan of action to resolve the issues you’re facing.

Free consultations are offered on a first-come-first-served basis: please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation with our VAT appeal experts, or click the button below to call us now.

What Our Clients Say:

“They’ve been great”

“As a contractor, I started to use an avoidance scheme a few years back. With HMRC deciding the schemes weren’t viable I knew I needed to get things sorted. T M Sterling have helped me through the settlement documents and we’re now waiting on HMRC to sort things their end. They (T M Sterling Ltd.) have been great. There’s always someone to speak to.”
Mr David - South Wales

``By far the friendliest``

“I instructed T M Sterling to represent me at Tribunal. It was a HMRC late appeal, which was several years out of date. It was my accountant that recommended I go with them and I’m glad he did. I was initially concerned that I live over 150 miles from them, but it was never a problem. We had Skye meetings, phone calls and regular updates. They were also really good about accepting payment over a few months and we’re by far the friendliest I’d spoken to. Tribunal ruled that my appeal should be allowed.”
Mr Gascoigne - East Midlands

``What a team!``

``I run quite a large company, so I’ve left some details out, but I’ll say that these guys are extremely knowledgeable about what they do. Following the sale of some shares, I was investigated by HMRC. HMRC stated that I owed £75k in taxes. Following a chat with T M Sterling, I decided to appeal to Tribunal. They represented me on the day and the Tribunal found in my favour. I wound up owing nothing to HMRC.``
Mrs Griffiths - South West