Behind the Numbers: When HMRC Gets Creative Accountancy might sound predictable, but sometimes our work brings unexpected — and often hilarious — situations. Over the years, we’ve encountered a few HMRC stories that make you shake your head, laugh, and appreciate the unpredictable side of accounting. Mistaken Identity: The Traveling Electrician One memorable example involved […]
Behind the Numbers: When Accounting Gets Unexpected A day in the life of an accountant might sound predictable or even boring. But sometimes, it isn’t. Occasionally, the work takes unexpected turns — like interacting with the police. Recently, I had a couple of experiences that reminded me just how varied life in a small practice […]
Behind the Numbers: An Accountant’s Perspective It’s often assumed that tax matters simply stop when someone passes away. In reality, however, a taxpayer’s finances still need careful attention, and the process can be quite different from a standard tax return. Recently, I dealt with my first final tax return for a deceased person, and it […]
Behind the Numbers: A Morning in an Accountancy Practice Behind the numbers, accountancy is rarely quiet, predictable, or boring. From HMRC phone queues to digital tax accounts that don’t behave as expected, this post shares a real morning inside an accountancy practice — the frustrations, the challenges, and the very human side of the job. […]
The Challenge: An HMRC Investigation Triggered by Incorrect Tax Returns When a new client (and genuinely decent human) came to us for HMRC tax investigation support, he was understandably stressed. His previous accountant had submitted inaccurate tax returns over a three-year period. Specifically, the figures included grossly overstated expenses and tax refunds the client was […]
For many growing businesses, cash flow can make or break the ability to invest in new projects. One of our clients discovered this firsthand. By leveraging our knowledge in R&D Tax, we helped them uncover significant refunds they didn’t even realise were possible. The company was planning to expand but urgently needed extra working capital. […]
When you work in the construction industry, it’s easy to assume your tax is being handled correctly. Yet many contractors unknowingly miss out on significant refunds every year. One of our clients experienced this first-hand, and his story shows just how valuable the right support can be. From the moment we reviewed his records, we […]
If you’ve ever felt that something “just isn’t adding up” in your finances, you’re not alone. One of our clients came to us feeling exactly the same way. He relied on his bookkeeper to keep things running smoothly, yet his accounts always seemed to be in chaos. Right from the start, we could see that […]
Turning a beautiful country mansion into a dream wedding venue sounds like a storybook success, and that’s exactly what one of our clients achieved. They invested heavily in refurbishments to create the perfect space for weekend celebrations. However, in the midst of all the excitement, they missed a significant VAT reclaim — over £30,000 — […]
CIS Penalties Cancelled – £10,000 Saved for Our Client When one of our clients repeatedly failed to send over his subcontractor hours each month, we warned him that CIS penalties would soon follow. However, he continued to delay. As a result, 18 months later, he opened his post to find 82 penalty notices from HMRC, […]