Let our clients tell you about us
Testimonials
The greatest compliment we receive is a client recommendation. Below are just a few of the kind words our clients have shared about working with Shipleys Tax.
The value of a close relationship
“We value the close working relationship we have with Shabeer and the specialist teams at Shipleys Tax and have found them very knowledgeable, friendly and quick to respond to our queries. Shabeer has attended several of our practice meetings and his advice regarding partnership succession issues has been invaluable. I would highly recommend Shipleys to other GP practices.”
Dr Khan, GP Surgery — Yorkshire
Dubai expat return — saved from a £1.2m UK tax bill
“After selling my business in Dubai I was planning to return to the UK the following year. A friend suggested I speak to Shipleys Tax before booking flights and it turned out to be the best decision I made. Shabeer quickly identified that I was about to walk into the temporary non-residence rules and face a UK tax bill in excess of £1 million on gains I had assumed were safely outside the UK net. With their guidance we restructured the timing of my return and my affairs completely legitimately — the tax saving was life changing. I cannot thank them enough.”
Imran — UK Entrepreneur, returning from Dubai
Fixed fee promise and no surprise bills
“One of the most frequent issues we had with our previous accountants was not being made aware, in advance, of the fees to be charged. Shipleys Tax were a breath of fresh air, always completely transparent — and no charges for any phone calls or meetings.”
FM Medical Practice — Manchester
CGT planning for dental practice sale
“Selling the dental practice I had built over 25 years was always going to be emotional, but I wasn’t prepared for the tax complexity. Abdul and the team at Shipleys Tax walked me through every option, explained the capital gains tax implications in plain English, and structured the sale in a way that saved me a significant amount of tax. Their attention to detail and proactive planning made all the difference — I only wish I had spoken to them sooner.”
Kevin — Derby, Dental Practice Owner
Property portfolio incorporation
“After Section 24 mortgage interest changes my buy-to-let portfolio had become a nightmare. I was paying tax on income I was never actually seeing. Shipleys Tax took the time to properly assess whether incorporation made sense for my specific situation — no hard sell, just honest advice. They modelled out ten years of projections, handled the entire restructuring including the SDLT planning, and now my portfolio is fit for the future. Genuine property tax specialists, not just accountants who dabble.”
Rashid — Leeds, Property Investor
Partner-led client service promise
“Accountants seem to promise the earth but don’t deliver do they? Well we found the opposite. Abdul made himself available on so many occasions and even on weekends when we had a really major panic with a sale. Really grateful to him for his advice and foresight. If we needed to talk, they listen. It really is that simple.”
Sabina — JL Healthcare
Inheritance tax mitigation and estate planning
“After losing my husband I was concerned about the inheritance tax exposure on our family estate. Shabeer took the time to properly understand our family situation before recommending anything. The advice I received on IHT mitigation was clear, practical and completely tailored to us — not an off-the-shelf solution. My children and grandchildren are now in a much better position and I have genuine peace of mind. I cannot recommend Shipleys highly enough.”
Louise — Leeds
Family Investment Company succession planning
“My family business had reached a point where I wanted to start bringing my children into ownership without giving up control or triggering a huge tax bill. Shipleys Tax designed and implemented a Family Investment Company structure that achieved everything I needed — I retain voting control, future growth passes to the next generation, and the inheritance tax position is now properly protected. Shabeer took the time to understand our family dynamics as well as the numbers, which was invaluable.”
James — Sheffield, Family Business Owner
GP practice incorporation
“Our GP partnership had been considering incorporation for years but no one could give us a straight answer on whether it was right for us. Shipleys Tax produced a detailed review of our specific circumstances, modelled out the tax savings over five years, and handled the entire incorporation process end to end. The transition was seamless and the tax savings have already exceeded their projections. A genuinely specialist firm that understands GPs.”
Gill — Manchester, GP Practice
HMRC tax investigation defence
“When HMRC opened an enquiry into my company, my existing accountants were completely out of their depth. A colleague recommended Shipleys Tax and within a week they had taken over the correspondence, identified the technical issues HMRC had got wrong, and put together a robust response. The case was closed within months with a fraction of the adjustment HMRC originally proposed. Their calm, experienced handling of what was a genuinely stressful time made all the difference. Having ex-HMRC Inspectors on their team was clearly a huge advantage.”
Dr Ahmed — Manchester, Private Practice Consultant
VAT reclaim for locum doctor agency
“We had been charging VAT on locum doctor supplies for years, assuming HMRC’s position was settled. When Shipleys Tax flagged the Isle of Wight tribunal decision to us, they didn’t just send a generic update — they actually reviewed our contracts, ran the numbers on partial exemption, and built a properly evidenced reclaim. The recovery was substantial and the process was completely painless on our side. The fact they understand both the VAT technical side and the commercial reality of running an agency made all the difference.”
Medical Staffing Agency — Yorkshire
Employee Ownership Trust exit
“I had built my company over 20 years and wanted an exit that looked after my staff rather than selling to a trade buyer who would strip it down. Shipleys Tax walked me through the Employee Ownership Trust route in detail — the pros, the cons, and honestly the complications too. They didn’t just sell me a product. When we went ahead they handled the entire transaction, including the HMRC clearance, and the result was exactly what I had hoped for. The team continues to thrive and my legacy is intact.”
David — Leeds, Business Founder
Going above and beyond
“I came to Shipleys Tax through a personal recommendation, at the time I was in a transitional period. I had already taken some steps towards self-employment, however I had no idea what I was doing and the information I received from others was inaccurate for what I needed. I needed someone to understand and help me resolve all the mess I was creating.
Abdul stepped in just at the right time. He dealt with all the paperwork, as well as giving me valuable advice on how to save tax, which was brilliant. I felt I was looked after, my needs taken care of without me feeling like being a burden.
I would recommend Shipleys to anyone that wants an experienced professional team. They are always eager to help and support your company and offer advice when needed, but above all they are always willing to go over and beyond expectation every time.”
Bella
Latest news & blogs…
Dubai-UK Tax Trap: Return of the Expat
RECENT WARNINGS FROM advisers highlight a growing issue affecting UK expats returning from Dubai and the wider Gulf. Individuals who believed they had legitimately realised gains while non-resident are now facing unexpected UK tax bills—sometimes running into millions.
In today’s Shipleys Tax brief, we highlight a growing and often misunderstood risk for UK expats returning from Dubai and the Gulf: the UK’s temporary non-residence rules can effectively pull previously untaxed overseas gains back into the UK tax net. What appeared to be a clean, tax-free disposal abroad can quickly turn into a multi-million pound liability on return—particularly where individuals come back within five years or inadvertently trigger UK residence sooner than expected.
With HMRC likely to scrutinise high-value cases closely and limited reliance on “exceptional circumstances”, the margin for error is small. The key message is that timing, structure and residence status must be managed proactively—because once you are back in the UK, the planning window is often already closed.
…the UK’s temporary non-residence rules can effectively pull previously untaxed overseas gains back into the UK tax net.
Why Expats are affected
At the centre of the problem is a rule many people either misunderstand or are simply unaware of: the UK’s temporary non-residence rules. These are designed to prevent individuals from leaving the UK for a short period, disposing of valuable assets tax-free in low-tax jurisdictions such as Dubai, and then returning shortly afterwards.
In general terms, if you leave the UK, become non-resident, and then return within five tax years, HMRC can effectively “look back” and tax certain gains you made while abroad. The result is that a disposal which appeared entirely tax-free at the time can later fall back into the UK tax net.
The real-world impact
This is where many expats are being caught out. A common scenario involves the sale of a business or investment during a period of non-residence—often with no local tax in the UAE. However, if the individual returns to the UK too soon, those gains can be taxed here, typically in the year of return.
For larger transactions, the numbers quickly become significant. It is not unusual for individuals to face tax charges in the millions on gains they assumed were outside the UK system.
UK return tax issue
The position is made more complex by the Statutory Residence Test. Simply returning to the UK—even for reasons outside your control—can increase your UK “day count” and trigger tax residence earlier than expected.
A common scenario involves the sale of a business or investment during a period of non-residence—often with no local tax in the UAE. However, if the individual returns to the UK too soon, those gains can be taxed here, typically in the year of return.
Once UK residence is re-established, the temporary non-residence rules may apply. This means the timing of your return is often just as important as the transaction itself.
Case Study 1: £5m Exit → Unexpected UK Tax Charge
A UK entrepreneur moves to Dubai and becomes non-UK resident. During their time abroad, they sell their business for £5 million, realising a full £5 million gain with no local tax. Confident the position is tax-free, they return to the UK after three years. However, because they have not remained non-resident for five full tax years, the UK’s temporary non-residence rules apply. The gain is effectively brought back into the UK tax net and taxed in the year of return, creating a potential liability of around £1.2 million (at 24% CGT, assuming no reliefs). The issue is not the disposal itself—but the timing of the return.
Case Study 2: Extracting £100,000 from a UK Company While Abroad
An individual leaves the UK and becomes non-resident, while retaining ownership of a UK company. During their period overseas, they extract around £100,000 of profits from the company, assuming this can be done free of UK tax while living in Dubai. They later return to the UK within five years.
Because of the temporary non-residence rules, certain income received during the non-resident period can be caught when the individual becomes UK resident again. HMRC may treat those amounts as taxable in the year of return, meaning what was assumed to be tax-free extraction could instead give rise to an unexpected UK income tax liability. As with capital gains, the risk arises not at the point of extraction—but on returning to the UK within the five-year window.
Exceptional Circumstances
Some individuals have looked to rely on the “exceptional circumstances” provisions, which can allow up to 60 days in the UK to be disregarded where events such as war or travel disruption prevent someone from leaving.
However, this is not a ready made guaranteed solution. HMRC apply rules narrowly and it depends heavily on the specific facts. Where alternative travel options exist—such as relocating temporarily to another country rather than returning to the UK—HMRC may take the view that the exemption does not apply.
In practice, relying on this argument carries risk, particularly where large tax liabilities are involved.
A growing risk
In the current climate, this creates real uncertainty. Many expats have returned to the UK due to instability in the region, while others are considering whether to do so.
The difficulty is that the tax consequences are not always clear-cut, and HMRC is likely to examine high-value cases closely—especially where significant gains have been realised during a short period of non-residence.
Planning before your return
From a practical perspective, this is rarely a situation that can be resolved after the event. The timing of your return, your residence position, and the structure of any disposals all interact in ways that can significantly change the outcome.
In some cases, careful planning—such as delaying a return, restructuring transactions, or considering an interim move to a third country—can materially reduce the risk.
Key takeaway
Leaving the UK does not automatically mean your gains are outside the UK tax system. If there is any possibility of returning within certain time limits, those gains may still be within HMRC’s reach.
Need advice?
If you may have exposure to UK tax while living in Dubai or the Gulf—or are looking to optimise your position—it is essential to review your UK tax affairs before taking any action.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute professional advice. Shipleys Tax does not provide free advice by email or phone. You should seek tailored advice before taking any action.
For further assistance or queries, please contact us below:
Leeds: 0113 320 9284 Sheffield: 0114 272 4984
Email: info@shipleystax.com
To discussion your tax position with a specialist please the complete the form below.
VAT Refund for Doctors – A rare win
Healthcare VAT update
VAT refund for locum doctors: a rare win, but claims need careful handling
HMRC’s revised position may allow some NHS bodies, private providers and staffing businesses to revisit historic VAT treatment of locum doctor supplies — but the opportunity needs to be assessed carefully, with the contracts, supply chain and knock-on effects properly reviewed.
Healthcare VAT
A significant VAT development for organisations using or supplying locum doctors
A recent tribunal decision, followed by HMRC accepting that it will revise its policy, has created a genuine opportunity for some organisations to revisit the VAT treatment of locum doctor supplies. For the right fact patterns, this may support historic refund claims. But this is not a blanket refund exercise, and the detail matters.
This issue can affect medical recruitment agencies, NHS bodies, private hospitals, clinics and other healthcare organisations that have either charged VAT on supplies of locum doctors or borne irrecoverable VAT on those supplies.
Key points at a glance
- HMRC has accepted that its historic position was too narrow and has said it will revise its guidance.
- Some historic VAT refund claims may be available, potentially going back up to four years.
- The issue is most relevant where locum doctors were treated as standard-rated supplies.
- Claims need to be reviewed carefully for unjust enrichment, contractual pass-through, partial exemption and input tax consequences.
- Not every arrangement will qualify — the contractual and factual matrix remains critical.
The change follows the tribunal decision in Isle of Wight NHS Trust and others, dealing with the scope of the exemption for the provision of a deputy for a registered medical practitioner. Historically, HMRC took a restrictive view and commonly treated agency-supplied locum doctors as taxable staffing supplies.
HMRC has now accepted that its position needs to be revised. In practical terms, that opens the door for some businesses and healthcare providers to review whether VAT was overdeclared on qualifying locum doctor supplies.
That does not mean every medical staffing arrangement is automatically exempt. It means the old blanket approach is no longer safe, and the underlying arrangements need to be analysed properly.
The opportunity may be relevant to:
- employment businesses and agencies supplying locum doctors
- NHS bodies and private healthcare providers who have paid irrecoverable VAT on locum doctor costs
- medical businesses reviewing historic VAT treatment across multiple contracts or divisions
- groups with partial exemption issues where input tax recovery may also need to be revisited
The commercial position differs depending on where you sit in the supply chain. A supplier considering a refund claim has different issues from a healthcare body which historically bore the VAT cost.
Although the headlines suggest a refund opportunity, the position is rarely as simple as filing a correction and waiting for repayment.
Key issues often include:
- whether the supplies actually fall within the exemption on the facts
- whether any benefit must be passed back under the commercial contract
- whether HMRC may raise unjust enrichment arguments
- whether previously recovered input tax needs to be adjusted
- whether customers’ historic VAT positions need to be reworked
This is why specialist commentators have described HMRC’s revised stance as more than a minor tweak — it has the potential to unlock refunds, but also to trigger knock-on adjustments across the supply chain.
If you are a medical recruitment agency, an NHS trust, or a private healthcare provider that routinely uses locum doctors, it is worth exploring this now — not at year end. These claims are time-limited, evidence-driven and often require a structured approach to documentation, contracts and VAT mechanics.
Just as importantly, HMRC guidance is still evolving. The strongest claims tend to be the ones that are properly evidenced, correctly scoped and aligned with the commercial reality of how supplies were made.
Shipleys Tax advises healthcare organisations and medical staffing suppliers on complex VAT issues, including eligibility reviews, quantification, claim strategy, and the knock-on effects on partial exemption and contracts. We focus on building claims that are commercially sensible and technically robust — and we manage the process so you don’t end up creating a second problem while trying to fix the first.
Where appropriate, we can help with:
- reviewing whether the supplies are capable of exemption
- quantifying historic overdeclared VAT
- assessing unjust enrichment risk
- reviewing contracts and pass-through clauses
- considering partial exemption and input tax consequences
- preparing a measured claim and disclosure strategy
Next step: a confidential VAT review
If you have charged VAT on locum doctor supplies, or absorbed VAT costs you couldn’t recover, now is the time to check your position and quantify the opportunity.
Speak to Shipleys Tax for a confidential review and we’ll assess whether a reclaim is available, estimate the size of the opportunity, and map the safest route forward.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute professional advice. Any VAT reclaim or adjustment should only be pursued after reviewing the specific contractual and factual position.
Business Ownership Structures: Choosing the Right Vehicle
Companies vs LLPs | FICs vs Direct Ownership | EOTs vs Trade Sale | Holding Companies vs Simple Groups
AS UK TAX landscape tightens and reliefs narrow, the most powerful tax and wealth outcomes are no longer achieved through last-minute planning. Instead, they are driven by how a business or investment is owned, structured and positioned for the future.
Whether you are growing a trading company, building a property portfolio, planning succession, or preparing for an eventual exit, structure is strategy. The wrong structure can quietly erode value, restrict options and expose you to unnecessary tax. The right one can support growth, unlock funding, and protect family wealth across generations.
In today’s Shipleys Tax article we take a broad look at some key structural choices facing UK business owners today — and why reviewing them early has never been more important.
Company vs LLP: Certainty or Flexibility?
One of the most common structural decisions is whether to operate through a limited company or a limited liability partnership (LLP).
Whether you are growing a trading company, building a property portfolio, planning succession, or preparing for an eventual exit, structure is strategy.
Limited companies offer:
- Clear separation between business profits and personal tax
- Greater certainty on tax rates and profit retention
- Access to share-based incentives such as EMI
- Cleaner exit routes, particularly for trade sales or private equity
LLPs, by contrast, provide:
- Flexible profit allocation
- Transparency for tax purposes
- Familiarity in professional and advisory sectors
However, LLPs are increasingly under scrutiny, particularly around employer NIC exposure, disguised employment and partner status. For many growing firms, the historic advantages of LLPs are narrowing, while companies provide a more robust and future-proof platform.
The real question is no longer “which structure saves tax today?”, but which structure still works as the business evolves.
Family Investment Companies (FICs) vs Direct Ownership
With inheritance tax receipts rising and nil-rate bands frozen, families holding valuable trading companies or property portfolios are increasingly re-examining how assets are owned.
Direct ownership is simple, but it exposes future growth to inheritance tax and limits succession flexibility.
Family Investment Companies (FICs), when properly structured, can:
- Retain control through voting shares
- Shift future growth to the next generation
- Support long-term succession planning without giving assets away outright
- Integrate with trusts and wider estate planning
FICs are not a “one-size-fits-all” solution. Poorly designed share rights, funding structures or governance can create unintended tax consequences or family tension. Used correctly, however, they remain one of the most effective long-term planning tools available.
FICs are not all about avoiding tax today — they are about controlling who bears tax tomorrow.
Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) vs Trade Sales
For founders considering an exit, the choice between an Employee Ownership Trust and a trade sale is as much about values as it is about numbers.
EOTs can offer:
- A tax-efficient exit route
- Business continuity
- Protection of culture and legacy
But they also involve:
- Deferred consideration
- Ongoing governance obligations
- Reduced flexibility following recent changes to CGT relief
FICs are not all about avoiding tax today — they are about controlling who bears tax tomorrow.
Trade sales, by contrast, often deliver:
- Higher upfront value
- Cleaner exits
- Greater certainty for founders
Increasingly, we see hybrid solutions — partial EOTs, management buy-outs, or staged exits — designed to balance tax efficiency, funding, and control.
The best exit is rarely binary — and almost never last-minute.
Holding Companies vs Simple Group Structures
As businesses grow, the question often arises: should you introduce a holding company?
A well-designed group structure can:
- Ring-fence risk between activities
- Enable tax-efficient dividend flows
- Support acquisitions without personal extraction
- Create flexibility for future demergers or partial sales
However, unnecessary complexity brings administrative burden and HMRC attention. The key is purpose-led structuring — building only what supports commercial reality.
Good group structures look simple on paper and powerful in practice.
Common Structural Mistakes
Across sectors, we frequently see:
- Structures copied from peers without regard to risk profile
- LLPs or sole ownership retained long after circumstances change
- Succession and exit planning deferred until value is already crystallising
- Tax planning pursued without a clear commercial narrative
These mistakes rarely fail immediately — they simply become expensive over time.
The Shipleys Tax View
Optimising structure is not about chasing loopholes or short-term tax savings. It is about aligning ownership with where the business, family or investment strategy is heading.
Growth, external capital, succession and exit all pull in different directions. The right structure reconciles them before tax becomes a constraint.
The most expensive tax planning is the kind done too late.
Next Steps
If your business or investment structure has not been reviewed in the last three to five years, there is a strong chance it no longer reflects:
- The current tax environment
- Your growth ambitions
- Your succession or exit plans
Shipleys Tax works with owner-managers, families and boards to stress-test structures against future scenarios — before decisions become irreversible.
For further assistance or queries, please contact:
Leeds: 0113 320 9284 Sheffield: 0114 272 4984
Email: info@shipleystax.com
This article is for general information only and does not constitute professional advice. Shipleys Tax does not offer free advice by email or phone. Always seek tailored advice before taking action.
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