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…
Residential property in a company – beware the ATED tax rules
MANY PROPERTY INVESTORS are increasingly using a limited company to hold properties for the perceived tax advantages. However, there are certain tax traps which the investor needs to be wary of in these situations.
One of these is the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (“ATED”) charge. The ATED is an annual tax on certain high-value residential properties that are held within an “envelope”, such as company or a partnership with at least one corporate partner.
The annual tax on enveloped dwellings (ATED) was introduced as part of a package of measures aimed at making it less attractive to hold high-value UK residential property indirectly, i.e. through a company etc, in order to avoid or minimise taxes such as stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on a subsequent disposal of the property.
In today’s Shipleys Tax brief we look into the rates and exemptions you need to know if the ATED tax applies to you and how you can avoid the charge.
The annual tax on enveloped dwellings (ATED) was introduced (to) make it less attractive to hold high-value UK residential property indirectly, i.e. through a company etc, in order to avoid or minimise taxes such as stamp duty land tax (SDLT) on a subsequent disposal of the property.
The Charge
The charge may potentially apply where a property in the UK which is valued at more than £500,000 is owned completely or partly by a company, a partnership with at least one corporate partner or a collective investment scheme (such as a unit trust or an open-ended investment company).
The charge is payable annually in advance. Where a property is within the scope of the ATED on 1 April, an ATED return must be made online by 30 April and the tax for the period from 1 April to the following 31 March must be paid by the same date. The table below shows the rates of ATED that applies for the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
| Value of property | ATED (2022/23) |
| More than £500,000 to up to £1 million | £3,800 |
| More than £1 million up to £2 million | £7,700 |
| More than £2 million up to £5 million | £26,050 |
| More than £5 million up to £10 million | £60,900 |
| More than £10 million up to £20 million | £122,250 |
| More than £20 million | £244,750 |
Letting exemption
You can avoid the tax charge by claiming an exemption.There are a number of exemptions from the ATED charge. One of these is the letting exemption.
The ATED charge does not apply if the property is let on a commercial basis and is not, at any time, occupied (or available for occupation) by anyone connected with the owner.
You can avoid the tax charge by claiming an exemption.There are a number of exemptions from the ATED charge.
Provided that this test is met, relief will be available. The relief must be claimed through HMRC’s ATED online forms service. If the claim reduces the ATED charge to nil (which will be the case if all high-value residential properties owned by the company are let on a commercial basis), a Relief Declaration Return needs to be completed.
Once this form is correctly completed and submitted, the property is exempt from paying the ATED charge.
If you are affected by any of the issues above and would like more information, please call 0114 272 4984 or email info@shipleystax.com.
Please note that Shipleys Tax do not give free advice by email or telephone.
Giving Gifts – is there a tax penalty?
THE NATURE OF a gift is that it is something that is given to some without receiving a payment in return. Consequently, as nothing is received in return it would seem unlikely that making a gift could trigger a tax liability.
However, as we will see in today’s Shipleys Tax brief, in some cases making a gift could land you with tax to pay.
Gift issues
Many make the mistake of thinking that gifting isn’t taxable. Whilst gifts are usually given without receiving a payment, strangely that doesn’t exempt gifts from triggering tax liabilities. There are tax rules that apply to gifting in various circumstances which, unfortunately, can give rise to a capital gains tax liabilities.
Market value
The making of a gift is a “disposal” for capital gains tax purposes. As the disposal is not by way of an arm’s length bargain (i.e., the price in a free market), the disposal proceeds are the market value at the time the gift was made, rather than the amount received by the person making the gift (i.e. nothing). From a capital gains tax perspective, unless the gift is to a spouse and the no gain/no loss rules apply or is exempt from capital gains tax, rather than the donor making a loss equal to the cost of the gift, a gain may be realised instead.
There are tax rules that apply to gifting in various circumstances which, unfortunately, can give rise to a capital gains tax liabilities.
Example
Bella has a painting which her niece has always loved. She purchased the painting many years ago for £100. The artist is currently very popular and the painting is now worth £20,000.
On giving the gift to her niece, Bella is treated as if she had disposed of the painting for its market value of £20,000. Consequently, she makes a capital gain of £19,900. Assuming her annual allowance of £12,300 remains available, she must pay capital gains tax on a gain of £6,800!
Gifts to spouses/civil partners
Transfers between spouses are deemed to be at a value that gives rise to neither a gain nor a loss. If instead of giving the painting to her niece, Bella had given it to her husband Akbar, the deemed consideration would be £100 (the value that creates neither a gain nor a loss) and Akbar would be treated as having acquired the painting for £100. In this situation there is no capital gains tax liability on the gift.
Gifts to a charity
Capital gains tax is not payable on a gift to a charity.
Relief for gifts of business assets
The relief for gifts of business assets allows the capital gains tax that might arise on the gift of a business asset to be deferred by ‘rolling over’ the gain so that the recipients base cost is reduced by the deferred gain. However, while this means that there will be no capital gains tax to pay at the time of the gift, the recipient will realise a larger gain when they dispose of the asset. The relief effectively shifts the liability from the donor to the recipient.
Capital gains tax is not payable on a gift to a charity.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that gifting isn’t taxable. In some cases, Capital Gains tax can still apply as we have seen above.
If you are affected by any of the issues above and would like more information, please call 0114 272 4984 or email info@shipleystax.com.
Please note that Shipleys Tax do not give free advice by email or telephone.
Spring Statement 2022 – Sunak’s Tax Plan
The UK Chancellor today delivered his much heralded Spring Statement. At Shipleys Tax we look at some of the brief highlights.
Basic rate of income tax to be cut to 19p by 2024
- Basic rate of income tax to be cut from 20% to 19% for the tax year ended 5 April 2024 (to be confirmed)
- The first cut of income tax rates in 16 years
National Insurance threshold to be raised by £3k
- National Insurance threshold raised by £3,000 for both Primary Class 1 and Class 4 NI
- This will further align with income tax thresholds, removing an historic anomaly
- The threshold at which employees and the self-employed will start to pay national insurance contributions will rise from £9,880 to £12,570 a year.
- The increase will be implemented from July this year (2022)
- Employers will benefit too, as the Employment Allowance that offsets Secondary Class 1 NI will increase from £4,000 to £5,000. This will also come into effect from April 2022.
- Most likely to dampen effects of the incoming Health and Social care levy of 1.25%
VAT on energy saving devices to be cut to zero
- VAT will be cut to zero on energy saving devices
- This includes thermal insulation and solar panels, and similar items.
- Fuel duty was also cut by 5p per litre, effective from 6pm on 23 March 2022.
- This cut will last for one year, subject to any extension.
If you are affected by any of the issues above and would like more information, please call 0114 272 4984 or email info@shipleystax.com.
Please note that Shipleys Tax do not give free advice by email or telephone.
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