Tax Investigations

Support through COP 8 and COP 9 investigations

If you find yourself subjected to a tax investigation it can be an unnerving, time-consuming and costly experience. It is hard to avoid the “MP’s tax scandal” headlines that have been hitting the news recently.

An HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Code of Practice (COP) 8 or 9 Special Investigation (SI) into suspected serious fraud or tax avoidance can be a nightmare. At best, such a tax investigation can be complex and confusing. At worst, a COP 8 or COP 9 investigation (as is the case with other tax investigations) can involve ‘dawn raids’, search warrants, orders for access to records, personal liability and financial penalties. Many SI cases involve banks, business suppliers, customers and ex-employees, and penalties can be up to 100% of the extra tax the authorities say is due. SI inspectors are considered to be the best – highly trained and very experienced.

A firm of Chartered Accountants such as Myers Clark, with nearly 100 years experience of tax investigations, can guide and represent you throughout the whole SI process. We can work alongside your lawyers or other legal representatives appointed to protect you from criminal investigation or prosecution and thus help to minimise damage to your reputation.

Myers Clark’s skilled tax experts can assist you in accounting to HMRC for transactions you were involved in many years before, helping you to unravel complex tax issues. We will present evidence with clarity and integrity so your tax investigation is resolved without any unnecessary delay. Our highly-skilled tax team can help with accusations of:

• Direct tax evasion: Including non-declaration, suppression of income, PAYE and/or P11D, foreign income, offshore accounts, random investigations and cheat prosecutions.
• Indirect tax evasion: Including VAT evasion, Missing Trader Intra Community (MTIC), importer/buffer/exporter, false returns, ‘diversion’, import quota breech or sanctions busting.

At Myers Clark we are familiar with all the HMRC groups and initiatives such as the Offshore Disclosure Facility, New Disclosure Opportunity, Civil Investigation of Fraud and Special Civil Investigations, as well as COP 8 and COP 9.

Call Peter Horn or Rebecca Potton on 01923 224411 or email Peter or Rebecca for a free initial discussion on how Myers Clark can help you through to the other side of the special tax investigation process.