Tax investigation service

Tax investigations – are you protected?

Support when you need it most – peace of mind for you and your business

Every year HMRC opens thousands of tax enquiries – often at random. Even the most careful and well prepared individuals and businesses can find themselves under scrutiny without warning. The process can be time consuming, stressful, and costly.

That’s why we offer our Tax Investigation Protection Service, designed to support you through the entire process and cover our professional fees if HMRC opens a check or investigation into your tax affairs.

Protect yourself with our Tax Investigation service.

With rising government pressure to increase tax revenue, HMRC continues to step up its activity and no one is immune. Whether you’re a company director, self-employed, or run a growing business, it’s more important than ever to be prepared.

Here’s what you can expect when you join:

Expert representation

Our team know your business and financial affairs, so we can step in immediately to manage the enquiry on your behalf.

No unexpected accountancy fees

Our service covers the professional costs associated with most types of HMRC enquiries and investigations – costs that could otherwise run into the thousands.

Peace of mind

We’ve arranged comprehensive cover through one of the UK’s leading tax investigation insurers, ensuring you’re protected if the unexpected happens.

24/7 Legal Support

Subscribers gain access to a free legal helpline – available 24/7, 365 days a year – for queries on employment law, health and safety, property and landlord/tenant enquiries and more.

Why you could be at risk

HMRC doesn’t need a reason to open an enquiry – many are random

You may be selected as part of a wider sector or regional campaign

Even if no additional tax is due, professional representation is still essential – as costs can mount quickly

In the 2021/22 tax year alone, HMRC recovered over £5.8 billion in additional tax from small businesses and individuals – a sharp increase that shows no signs of slowing.

Subscription options

We offer tailored subscription levels depending on your individual or business structure. All fees are inclusive of insurance which is effective from the date payment is received.

Personal Tax Only – £44.40

Sole Trader – £165.60

Partnerships – £196.80

Limited Companies

Turnover up to £5m – £261.60

Turnover £5m to £10m – £384.00

Turnover £10m to £15m – £516.00

Turnover £15m – £20m – £780.00

Further information please see our leaflet.

How to subscribe

Fill in your details below to join our Tax Investigation Protection Service. You can choose to pay by annual direct debit, bank transfer or by card.

Your subscription will commence following the payment being received and will renew on the 1st October annually.

Click to view our printable application form.

Don’t leave it to chance. Protect your finances, your business, and your peace of mind. Subscribe to our Tax Investigation Protection Service today.

FAQ’s

What is a Tax Investigation Service?

It is a Service set up by us and is backed by an insurance policy we have taken out in our own name with Professional Fee Protection Limited (PFP) and protects our clients who suffer a tax enquiry. For a small annual fee, you can join our service and obtain the benefits described on the Service Summary. When you subscribe to our service we are able to make a claim against our insurance policy held with PFP in respect of our fees incurred.

I have done nothing wrong, why should I be worried about a tax enquiry?

Most tax enquiries are generated by computer ‘risk profiling’ and many are selected completely at random. As a result, anyone can be picked for investigation, even if you have done nothing wrong.

Are compliance checks into Furlough Payments included?

We anticipate these will be covered where Furlough payments are checked by HMRC as part of a routine PAYE compliance check. Cover would not extend to situations where the rules surrounding the schemes have not been adhered to or deliberate failures are identified or HMRC Fraud Investigations Service are involved.

I have only just engaged you as my accountant and you have not yet filed a return for me, should I wait to join?

Once you join the service, you will be protected against our fees relating to enquiries raised into previous years, even if we did not prepare the return. Exclusions to this would include any fees incurred by the previous accountant and any fees relating to the reconstruction of books and records that have been poorly maintained.

My company hasn’t yet filed its first corporation tax return with HMRC

If the company has employees and/or is VAT registered, there are still advantages of joining the service before the first corporation tax return is filed, for example, in the event of a PAYE or VAT enquiry.

I have already got some protection through a trade subscription or policy e.g. FSB.

The cover offered by these types of protection is often not as wide ranging as the service we offer.

Such policies are not likely to pay our fees to look after you and may instead bring in an outside consultant who does not know you.

If I have missed the filing deadline for my return, am I still covered?

Returns which have been submitted more than 90 days late will be excluded from the service.

Who are Professional Fee Protection Limited (PFP)?

PFP are specialist providers of Tax Enquiry Insurance. They pioneered fee protection in the UK over 30 years ago. They have protected over 600,000 different businesses and individuals. They are committed to working in conjunction with us, thus ensuring your interests are fully protected.

How do I join or obtain information?

To subscribe to our service, please complete the application form and email it to us hello@bennettbrooks.co.uk.  We will then be in touch with an invoice and when we receive your payment your cover will commence.   If you have any queries please get in touch with us below.