The Fraud Investigation Service brings together HMRC’s senior investigators for serious or high-value work. They run Code of Practice 8 (suspected avoidance) and Code of Practice 9 (suspected serious fraud), and many complex offshore cases. They also sit with the criminal team when a case might be prosecuted.
Sometimes the letterhead looks like a local office while FIS is already directing the work, gathering evidence before a COP9 invitation is issued. A FIS letter is a reason to instruct someone who has handled this level of case, not to hope it will blow over.
What representation changes
These investigators are used to unrepresented taxpayers over-explaining. We keep the file to the issues they are entitled to pursue, negotiate tax and penalties, and try to stop a civil FIS case being passed across for prosecution.
How Solaratax helps
We take the correspondence, attend the meetings and quantify any settlement. You should not have a “quick call” with FIS to clear the air.
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
Code of Practice 8 — tax avoidance investigations
Serious suspected loss of tax without an allegation of fraud — usually a planning structure or marketed scheme.
Code of Practice 9 and the Contractual Disclosure Facility
Serious suspected fraud: admit and disclose under CDF, or deny — with a 60-day outline disclosure if you accept the CDF.
Criminal tax investigations
Rare, severe cases: cautioned interviews, searches, and a prison sentence rather than a tax penalty.
Offshore tax investigations
CRS data, information notices and purchased leaks: HMRC already knows more about foreign accounts than most people assume.
Talk to Solaratax
128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX. 01615 314179. enquiries@solaratax.co.uk. Free, confidential, no obligation.
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