Company tax investigations

Directors’ personal tax is a separate file

Inspectors frequently ask for personal bank statements or put personal questions in a company meeting, especially where there are few directors. Sometimes that is justified — for example where company income looks to have been diverted. Often it is simply convenient for HMRC. An enquiry into the company does not, by itself, force a director to hand over a personal file. We tell you what to provide and what to refuse.

Earlier years and other taxes

If the same error sits in earlier returns, HMRC can go back at least four years and, in some cases, up to 20. Where company money reached directors, they may open a personal enquiry as well.

Corporation Tax is the heading on the letter. VAT and PAYE often follow once they are on the premises. We keep those streams identified so one visit does not become three unmanaged investigations.

How Solaratax helps

We quantify differences between the records and the accounts, agree revised profits where they are due, and push back where they are not. We will not let a company enquiry wander into a director’s private affairs without a proper legal basis.

Call 01615 314179 or email enquiries@solaratax.co.uk for a free, confidential discussion. We will not contact HMRC in your name until you instruct us to act.

Questions we are asked

Related investigations

• Personal tax investigations

  Most HMRC enquiries sit on individual tax returns — employed people, landlords, investors and the self-employed.

• PAYE investigations

  Employer record visits: pay, benefits, status, CIS and the way a payroll check can open VAT or director enquiries.

• VAT investigations

  VAT visits, input tax queries and the more serious dishonest-conduct cases under Notice 160.

• HMRC tax investigations

  What an HMRC enquiry actually is, how it can escalate, and how we keep the case in the civil system wherever we can.