A few typical instances are shown in our case studies below. For a more thorough discussion of your circumstances, please contact us.
Changing circumstances over 30 years
We were asked to prepare a disclosure under the Let Property Campaign by a husband and wife. The calculations were complex because of various structural changes over more than 30 years and they had acquired elements of it in stages, lived in part, but needed to rent other parts to cover their mortgage. Over time, the areas occupied by the clients and the parts rented changed. Having fully considered the facts and the clients’ personal circumstances, we genuinely believed that the wife had a reasonable excuse for failing to notify chargeability to HMRC and submitted a disclosure and offer accordingly.
HMRC decided to challenge strongly and demanded 20 years of past tax. Believing our position to be right, we stood firm and submitted a detailed technical analysis of the reasonable excuse and case law provisions, and how they applied to the facts of this particular case. HMRC had to agree, leading to a liability of £2,900 rather than more than ten times that figure. While that is not one of the biggest settlements we see, it was a very significant sum for this particular client.
“[We] wanted to thank you for the way you and your team helped us through the minefield of sorting out our tax liabilities over a very complex case. I always felt that there was someone knowledgeable and caring at the end of the phone - but most importantly you have a wealth of experience in tax matters which can be brought to bear in an individually-tailored way.
This resulted in an outcome which we were very happy with and I would not hesitate to recommend Crowe to anyone wanting skilled professional input when sorting out their tax affairs.”
A personal touch to get the right result
We were approached by a mother and son who, for a number of years, had been in receipt of both residential and commercial rental income, income from lodgers in their own home, self-employment income and investment income. None of the income had been declared to HMRC, with no tax returns having been completed by either client. Having considered their circumstances, we advised that a disclosure under the Let Property Campaign would be the most appropriate solution.
While the disclosure itself was complicated by the fact that the clients only had partial records to confirm the income, expenditure and periods of occupancy over the years, a more significant factor was that the son suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks. He found the entire process extremely daunting and required frequent reassurance, along with full explanations of our conclusions, the course of action proposed and what the likely consequences would be by HMRC.
The case required patience, a very personal touch and an understanding of the client’s specific needs. By providing solid technical advice and a focussed strategy throughout, it helped to earn the clients’ trust, which eased some of the stress for them. Importantly, the disclosure was accepted by HMRC without them asking any questions, which was greatly appreciated by the clients.
“[Crowe] immediately understood our issues and outlined a clear strategy to deal with the problem, demonstrating their vast experience and knowledge in the field. They explained every stage of the process to us throughout and always had a confidence and positivity that was contagious. Their compassion and knowledge always put us at ease if we were anxious on an issue. This in turn ensured we felt informed, in control and confident in completing this process.”
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