Tax Investigation Units

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Specialist Investigations

The Specialist Investigations (SI) branch of HMRC operates HMRC's Code of Practice 9 (cases of suspected serious fraud) and COP 8 (tax avoidance). It is considered the elite investigation arm of the tax authority and is mainly staffed by highly trained, experienced, high-flying investigators. SI tax inspectors are considered in HMRC to be the best of the best. Specialist Investigations teams are based in each of the UK’s major cities; usually made up of a "fraud" team dealing with COP 9 or an "avoidance" team dealing with Code Of Practice 8.

SI has a remit to deal with serious, new, unusual and complex situations. It aims to only take on cases where the likely “yield” (of tax, interest and penalties) will be over £500,000. Many of HMRC’s largest prosecutions also started in Specialist Investigations. If SI is involved it means the taxman believes the case is serious, large and complex: and is going to lead to a large payment. Such enquiries can be very damaging; especially as many SI cases involve extensive 3rd party enquiries (e.g. visits by the taxman to banks, business suppliers, customers, ex-employees, internet service providers etc).

SI investigators have small case loads and lots of support staff (including qualified accountants recruited from large firms,computer forensic experts, specialist solicitors etc), allowing them to devote considerable resource to each case. Dealing with a Specialist Investigations enquiry without your own specialist support can be dangerous (partly due to the risk of Criminal Prosecution) very expensive (as the tax and penalties bill is likely to be much higher than necessary) and very time consuming. Penalties can be up to 200% of the extra tax they say is due and HMRC may publically "name and shame" anyone they feel has not properly co-operated.

How can Lynam Tax Enquiry Experts help me?
Not all Specialist Investigations cases produce penalties, and a small number do not produce any extra tax. However, persuading the battle hardened SI investigators of this, and more crucially gathering and presenting the evidence to do so, is a difficult task. But it's one which we at Lynam Tax have devoted our professional lives to.

If you, or your client, have received a Specialist Investigations Code Of Practice 8 or 9 then you need specialist help now. Do not delay. For a free, confidential, no obligation discussion with our Tax Investigation experts, call Paul Lynam today on: 0845 643 9997.

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We specialise in managing all Tax Enquiry, Disclosures & Tax Disputes with HMRC.

We will help you throughout the Tax Investigation and save you money, so you can concentrate on running your business and enjoying your private life.

CALL LYNAM TAX NOW: 0845 643 9997

For a helpful, sympathetic, confidential and no obligation discussion.