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…
How to get up to £5k off accounting software with new Govt scheme
A GOVERNMENT SCHEME launched 20 Jan 2022 gives businesses up to £5,000 saving on accounting and customer relationship management software.
What it is it?
The scheme, called “Help to Grow: Digital”, is an attempt by the government to give support to small businesses by helping them improve their digital systems and processes:
- scheme provides businesses with discounts of up to £5,000 on approved Digital Accounting and Customer Relations Management (CRM) software
- dedicated website providing free, impartial support now open to boost businesses’ digital skills.
Who is it for?
To qualify for the financial discount, businesses from any sector must meet all 4 of the following criteria:
- be a business based in the United Kingdom registered with Companies House or be a registered society on the Financial Conduct Authorities Mutuals Register
- be employing between 5 and 249 people.
- have been actively trading for over 12 months, and have an incorporation date of at least 365 days prior to application
- be purchasing the approved software for the first time
What do you get?
Eligible businesses will receive one financial discount towards the purchase of one approved software product up to a maximum of £5,000 (not including VAT) in Customer Relationship Management and Digital Accounting software product categories.
- additional software product categories will be available with the discount soon, including e-Commerce software
- the financial discount covers 12 months’ worth of approved software product core costs, exclusive of VAT
How do I apply?
Businesses can also access the support through a new online platform.
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.
HMRC to retrospectively recoup Child Benefit charges
THE GOVERNMENT has confirmed that the upcoming Finance Bill will include changes to discovery assessments, allowing HMRC to recoup unpaid high income child benefit charges going back almost ten years.
In todays Shipleys Tax brief we look at this concerning development.
What’s the High-Income Child Benefit charge (HICBC)?
The unpopular High-Income Child Benefit Charge (“HICBC”) was introduced in 2013 and is a tax charge paid by so called “higher earners” which claws back up to 100% of any child benefit received by the earner or their partner. A high earner for this purpose is when the income of the child benefit claimant or their partner exceeds £50,000 p.a. The charge is collected via the annual self-assessment tax system and taxpayers affected by these rules are required to register for self-assessment and pay their HICBC by 31 January following the end of the tax year.
What is happening now?
Despite HMRC administering the collection of child benefit payments from high earners, it is still finding taxpayers that have not declared the benefit in previous years. In a recent case, it was found that HMRC did not have the specific legal powers to recover the HICBC even where the charge remained unpaid for a few years. The decision in Wilkes v HMRC found that HMRC did not have the power to impose the HICBC by means of “discovery assessment” (a form of enquiry into a tax return) as there was no income which ought to have been assessed. As a result, the child benefit claimant Mr Wilkes did not have to pay the tax charges.
If you can’t beat it – change the law…
As a consequence of losing the case, the government has confirmed that the upcoming Finance Bill will include changes to tax investigation powers, allowing HMRC to recoup unpaid high income child benefit charges going back almost ten years.
Once the Finance Bill is enacted, HMRC will be able to open tax investigations (“discovery assessments”) to collect any unpaid child benefit tax charges from as far back as 2013. However, the rule change will not apply to those that have already appealed against such assessments.
What does this mean?
Individuals with income over £50,000, where either they or their partner receives child benefit, could soon receive a large unexpected tax bill from several years ago.
This could have drastic consequences on unsuspecting child benefit claimants. For example, complications around relationships where parents are separated or where a relationship ends, or those who are not married are not properly accounted for. At Shipleys Tax we advocate paying the correct amount of tax, however where the collection system is flawed there are many instances where injustices will occur and individuals will be faced with large tax bills that they were genuinely unaware of, or don’t have the finances to meet the liability due to the pandemic, or the amount has been incorrectly assessed due to inherent flaws in the system.
If you are affected by any of the issues above and would like more information, or need help with tax investigations please call 0114 272 4984 or email info@shipleystax.com.
Please note that Shipleys Tax do not give free advice by email or telephone.
Electric car charging points – is it tax free?
AS PART OF the UK Government’s climate change initiative to encourage drivers to ‘go electric’, the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced an extension to a £50 million Government fund to install electric charge points. The fund aims to help small business to gain access to the workplace charging scheme and provide grants to meet up to 75% of the cost of installing electric charging points at domestic premises.
Whilst we know tax advantages are available where employees opt for an electric company car (see LINK), is there a tax charge if an employer provides a charging point to enable employees to charge their own cars at work?
In today’s Shipleys Tax brief we take a summary look at whether a tax charge arises in these circumstances if you’re planning to help your employees go electric.
Workplace electric vehicle charging
A tax exemption applies to remove the charge that might potentially arise where an individual charges the battery of a vehicle that is used by the employee.
Private vehicles
The exemption means that an employee is able to charge their own car, or one that they are driving or a passenger in, using a workplace charging free of any associated benefit in kind tax charge. There is no requirement that the electricity provided is used for business journeys; the exemption applies regardless of whether the charge powers business or private journeys.
The exemption covers:
- the cost of the electricity;
- the cost to the employer of providing the charging facilities; and
- any connected services.
However, the exemption only applies if the following conditions are met:
- the charging facility is provided at or near the employee’s place of work;
- charging must be available to all the employees generally or those at the particular workplace should they wish to use the facilities; and
- the vehicle which is charged is one in which the employee is the driver or a passenger.
Company vehicles
Likewise, no tax charge arises if an employee uses a workplace charger to charge an electric company car. There would, in any event, be no tax charge in respect of electricity provided for business journeys. However, as electricity is not treated as a ‘fuel’ for company car purposes, the use of a workplace charging facility does not trigger the fuel benefit charge if the charge provided powers private journeys.
Offsite charging
The tax exemption does not apply to the reimbursement or payment of an employee’s personal expenditure in respect of charging a battery in a private vehicle away from the employer’s premises, for example, at a motorway service station. Where the vehicle is used for business journeys, mileage allowances may be paid tax-free up to the approved amount.
However, no tax charge arises in respect of the provision of electricity for a company car for private mileage as electricity is not treated as a fuel for the purposes of the fuel benefit charge.
Capital allowances
A first-year capital allowance of 100% of the expenditure is available for expenditure on electric charge-point equipment. The allowance is available for expenditure incurred before 1 April 2023 for corporation tax purposes and before 6 April 2023 for income tax purposes.
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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