0161 883 2120

VAT assessment review. Assessment reduced by over 80%.  No penalty.

VAT assessment review

Our client, a partnership, operated a restaurant in Cornwall.  VAT assessments were originally made totalling over £250,000 plus interest being based on an allegation of dishonest evasion.  Dishonest evasion carries a penalty of up to 100% of the tax evaded.  

A VAT review was undertaken by one of our VAT experts and a number of assumptions made by HMRC were found to be incorrect.  With our VAT specialist assistance the dishonest evasion allegation was withdrawn and the VAT assessments reduced by over 80%.

Meet The Team

Peter Smallwood Headshot

PeterSmallwood

Peter has assisted a variety of clients including overseas businesses, large multi-national businesses, family businesses, partnerships and sole proprietors. Peter has represented clients at VAT ADR meetings and at the First-Tier Tax Tribunal. Initial negotiations with HMRC can be crucial and as a VAT specialist Peter has been able to make representations to HMRC that have resulted in a number of clients to successfully resolve matters without the need of further action. Peter has been instructed by a number of firms of Solicitor’s to provide expert witness reports in relation to VAT matters.

Experience

Peter has over 25 years’ experience as a leading VAT specialist working in the profession including being a VAT Director at Deloittes. Prior to working within the profession he worked as a Senior VAT Officer at what is now HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Indeed he remembers the days prior to HMRC when he worked at HM Customs & Excise (HMC&E) and before specialising in VAT his work experience included Excise Duty and Customs Duty matters.

RachelDavies

Rachel Davies began her working life in the legal profession. When appropriate Rachel will instruct Counsel on behalf of clients for some of the more complex appeals on which we are instructed. Some appeals were Counsel has been instructed by Rachel have resulted in HMRC conceding the matter only a matter of days before a hearing was due to take place.

Experience

She moved on and over 25 years ago began working with the VAT group at Deloitte. Rachel was instrumental in setting up Solve VAT in 2002 and almost the first matter she worked on was what ultimately turned out to be a successful appeal on behalf of a client to the High Court from what was then the VAT and Duties Tribunal.