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…
RESTART – New grants for small businesses
IN THE BUDGET 2021 the Chancellor will unveil £5bn support package to help small businesses stay afloat until restrictions are lifted.
Under the scheme it is thought that non-essential retail businesses will be able to apply for grants of up to £6,000; while pubs, restaurants, hotels and leisure businesses will be able to apply for grants up to the full amount of £18,000.
Where can you get your Restart Grant?
The Restart Grant scheme, administered by local councils, will help most small business owners including those running shops, pubs, clubs, hotels restaurants, gyms and hair salons.
Non-essential retail businesses will get up to £6,000 per premises through the Restart Grant scheme to help them reopen. Shops will reopen no earlier than April 12, according to the Government’s Covid-19 roadmap.
More Restart Grant money will be available for any small business in hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gyms, which will reopen later and will be more affected by restrictions. They can receive up to £18,000, depending on their rateable value.
The Restart Grant scheme will replace the monthly Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) and Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open), which will both close at the end of March.
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.
Electric cars – still tax efficient from April 2021?
For 2020/21, it was possible to enjoy an electric company car as a tax-free benefit. While this will no longer be the case for 2021/22, electric and low emission cars can remain a tax-efficient benefit.
In today’s Shipleys Tax note we get up to speed on the changes afoot and whether this can affect your buying choices.
How are electric cars taxed?
Under the company car tax rules, a taxable benefit arises in respect of the private use of that car. The taxable amount (the cash equivalent value) is the ‘appropriate percentage’ of the list price of the car and optional accessories, after deducting any capital contribution made by the employee up to a maximum of £5,000. The amount is proportionately reduced where the car is not available throughout the tax year, and is further reduced to reflect any contributions required for private use.
The appropriate percentage
The appropriate percentage depends on the level of the car’s CO2 emissions. For zero emission cars, regardless of whether the car was first registered on or after 6 April 2020 or before that date, the appropriate percentage for electric cars is 1% for 2021/22. For 2020/21 it was set at 0%.
This means that the tax cost of an electric company car, as illustrated by the following example, remains low in 2021/22.
Example
Jaz has an electric company car with a list price of £30,000. The car was first registered on 1 April 2020.
For 2020/21, the appropriate percentage for an electric car was 0%, meaning that Jaz was able to enjoy the benefit of the private use of the car tax-free.
For 2021/22, the appropriate percentage is 1%. Consequently, the taxable amount is £300 (1% of £30,000).
If Jaz is a higher rate taxpayer, he will only pay tax of £120 on the benefit of his company car. If he is a basic rate taxpayer, he will pay £60 in tax. This is a very good deal.
His employer will also pay Class 1A National Insurance of £41.40 (£300 @ 13.8%).
For 2022/23 the appropriate percentage will increase to 2%.
Low emission cars
If an electric car is not for you, it is still possible to have a tax efficient company car by choosing a low emission model.
The way in which CO2 emissions are measured changed from 6 April 2020. For 2020/21 and 2021/22, the appropriate percentage also depends on the date on which the car was first registered as well as its CO2 emissions. For low emission cars within the 1—50g/km band, there is a further factor to take into account – the car’s electric range (or zero emission mileage). This is the distance that the car can travel on a single charge.
The following table shows the appropriate percentages applying for low emission cars for 2021/22.
| Appropriate percentage for 2021/22 for cars with CO2 emissions of 1—50g/km | ||
| Electric range | Cars first registered before 6 April 2020 | Cars first registered on or after 6 April 2020 |
| More than 130 miles | 2% | 1% |
| 70—129 miles | 5% | 4% |
| 40—69 miles | 8% | 7% |
| 30 – 39 miles | 12% | 11% |
| Less than 30 miles | 14% | 13% |
As seen from the table, choosing a car with a good electric range can dramatically reduce the tax charge. Assuming a list price of £30,000, the taxable amount for a car first registered on or after 6 April 2020 with an electric range of at least 130 miles is £300 (£30,000 @ 1%); by contrast, the taxable amount for a car with the same list price first registered before 6 April 2020 with an electric range of less than 30 miles is £4,200 (£30,000 @ 14%).
The moral here is to choose a new greener model and you will be rewarded with a lower tax bill.
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.
Gifting interest in property – tax free, right?
IN DIFFICULT FINANCIAL times, many naturally look to put their affairs in order in case the worst happens. In such testing times many fall into tax traps without realising. One of most common misconceptions we come across here at Shipleys Tax is individuals transferring interest in properties to a spouse, child or relative in the belief that so long as no money has changed hands it must be tax free, right?
Wrong. As with most things in life, it’s not that simple, unfortunately. Although it is possible in certain circumstances to transfer assets between spouses tax free, giving a property to children or other family members may trigger an unwelcome tax bill, even if nothing was received it return.
In today’s Shipleys Tax note we briefly look at what tax traps could lay in wait for the unsuspecting person looking to organise their property affairs.
Family connections and market value
The problem is that the legislation does not respect family connections. So, where an asset is transferred (or disposed) to a “connected person”, the transfer is deemed to take place at market value, regardless of whether any consideration is actually received and the amount of that consideration.
Although it is possible to transfer assets between spouses tax free, giving a property to children or other family members may trigger an unwelcome tax bill, even if nothing was received it return.
So, who are connected people? The list of connected persons includes:
- spouses and civil partners;
- relatives (siblings, ancestors or lineal descendants);
- spouse or civil partners of relatives;
- relatives or spouses or of civil partners; and
- spouses or civil partners of those relatives.
However, as noted above, the tax-free transfer rule applies to transfer between spouses and civil partner rather than the market value rules.
The following case study illustrates the potential cost of being caught out by the market value rule.
Case study
Adam has a buy to let property. To help his daughter to get on the property ladder, he decides to make a gift of the property to her. He receives nothing in exchange for the property.
At the time that he gifted the property to his daughter, the house was valued at £300,000.
Adam purchased the property ten years earlier for £200,000. Costs of acquisition and disposal are £5,000.
However the tax-free transfer rule applies to transfer between spouses and civil partner rather than the market value rules.
As his daughter is a connected person, Adam is deemed to have disposed of the property for £300,000, giving rise to a chargeable gain of £95,000 (£300,000 – (£200,000 + £5,000)).
Assuming Adam is a higher rate taxpayer and has used his annual exempt amount already, this will give rise to a capital gains tax bill of £26,600 (£95,000 @ 28%). This must be reported to HMRC within 30 days and capital gains tax paid within the same time frame.
Despite not receiving a penny for the property, Adam must find £26,600 to pay in capital gains tax!
Family Tax Planning?
However, with careful planning Adam may have been able to transfer the property to his daughter potentially tax free. There are planning options available in the right circumstances using a trust arrangement or an LLP/company structure to mitigate or at the very least defer some of the tax payable.
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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