HMRC Enquiries & Disputes - An Overview

HMRC contact detailing checks into Individuals, Businesses or Companies can be complex and difficult to resolve without specialist advice and experience.

Whatever your needs, The Tax Faculty can provide the experts you need to successfully keep these checks from spiralling out of control.

All initial consultations are free of charge and should you choose to engage our tax experts, you will receive an award winning service at prices that are affordable to you.

Call us free on 0800 0016 878 or email us at info@thetaxfaculty.co.uk for more information.

Please note, non-UK callers may need to call 0207 101 3845 if your line cannot connect to our 0800 number.

COP9 INVESTIGATION ASSISTANCE

A criminal investigation conducted by HMRC is obviously incredibly serious and certainly should not be taken lightly. HMRC have the authority to prosecute in the most serious of cases and will seek such actions where appropriate.

HMRC’s Criminal Investigation policy gives information on when HMRC may consider the use of proceedings and gives examples of what may trigger a criminal investigation. These include:

> in cases of organised criminal gangs attacking the tax system or systematic frauds where losses represent a serious threat to the tax base, including conspiracy

> where an individual holds a position of trust or responsibility

> where materially false statements are made or materially false documents are provided in the course of a civil investigation

> where pursuing an avoidance scheme, reliance is placed on a false or altered document or such reliance or material facts are misrepresented to enhance the credibility of a scheme

> where deliberate concealment, deception, conspiracy or corruption is suspected
in cases involving the use of false or forged documents

> in cases involving importation or exportation breaching prohibitions and restrictions

> in cases involving money laundering with particular focus on advisors, accountants, solicitors and others acting in a ‘professional’ capacity who provide the means to put tainted money out of reach of law enforcement

> where the perpetrator has committed previous offences or there is a repeated course of unlawful conduct or previous civil action

> in cases involving theft, or the misuse or unlawful destruction of HMRC documents
where there is evidence of assault on, threats to, or the impersonation of HMRC officials
where there is a link to suspected wider criminality, whether domestic or international, involving offences not under the administration of HMRC

As a result, this type of investigation can be intrusive and has a much broader range than a relatively simple compliance check.

Due to the serious nature of such an investigation and the suspicion of fraud, we at The Tax Faculty recommend that you contact us before you respond HMRC’s opening contact so that our expert HMRC-handling specialists can provide you with the best possible advice on how you should proceed.

Our experts have many years of experience in both conducting serious fraud investigations for HMRC as senior tax inspectors and also in defending clients from such investigations and allegations of serious fraud. By discussing your circumstances in a non-judgemental atmosphere with our specialists, we can give you detailed advice throughout the process.

Even if you do not eventually use The Tax Faculty, please do seek advice at an early stage. Whether you are an individual who has been placed under criminal investigation by HMRC, or you are a private practice whose client is under criminal investigation, please do not ignore the letter or attempt to respond without first seeking advice from professionals with the relevant experience.

We also offer our services to those who already under criminal investigation. Our experts can assist and give a new perspective on existing investigations, providing a pathway to navigate the investigation to a conclusion and can at times persuade HMRC to take the investigation to a civil rather than a criminal footing.

In addition to dealing directly with individual client investigations, our specialists have a proven track record of assisting independent practices in dealing with investigations into their clients.

For a free, confidential and non-judgemental consultation call us free on 0800 0016 878 or email us at info@thetaxfaculty.co.uk for more information.

Please note, non-UK callers may need to call 0207 101 3845 if your line cannot connect to our 0800 number.

Have you received a COP9 Letter from HMRC?

Have you or one of your clients received a COP9 letter from HMRC? Before you respond to the letter, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can make sure that you take the necessary steps to ensure that any response is correct, complete and most importantly does not prejudice the future of any resulting investigations.

HMRC have incredibly strict deadlines by which you must reply and your response must be adhere to HMRC's strict criteria, so it is very important that you take expert advice as soon as possible.

Check out our comprehensive guide to Code of Practice 9 Investigations and feel free to contact us for more information.