Tax Investigations, Enquiries and Checks
There are many phrases for a tax investigation, the terms enquiry and checking the return are just two but whatever term is used any tax investigation is an obtrusive and demanding challenge to your tax returns and accounts. It is a stressful and potentially costly exercise and one that can have a major impact on you, your family and your business. It is a truly daunting prospect.
With the new HMRC information powers and penalty regime in force the ability for HMRC to obtain information and then heavily penalise anything other than a genuine mistake has never been greater. Investigations are rarely random, less than 5% of individuals, traders and businesses are enquired into each year and of those less than 5% of enquiries are truly random so HMRC is looking at you for a reason they are not obliged to disclose to you.