Q&A about
HMRC tax
investigations
answered
ABV Solicitors
When you run your own business or company, it can be a shock to the system when you find out that HMRC is
investigating you for tax fraud, especially if it has come out of the blue.
The important thing is to remain calm and contact a fraud solicitor as soon as possible to help get the ball rolling in
building a defence. A fraud solicitor will have worked with this kind of case before and will be able to offer you help and
guidance on what information needs to be provided, what the next steps are and, of course, whether there will be any
penalties or charges based on the evidence that you give them.
More than anything, though, you will likely have some questions. While it is not possible to answer the specifics of your
case, in this article, 5 common queries relating to HMRC tax investigations are answered.
Why am I being investigated?
A tax investigation is an inquiry into your tax payment history, and it can be due to issues with the tax return, a mistake on
the tax return, conflicting information, a whistleblower, a random check or incorrect information on your tax returns. But it
is important to identify the type of tax inquiry that you are undertaking. Sometimes, HMRC does almost spot checks on
businesses; if this is the type of investigation, you will not need the help of a fraud solicitor.
How do I know if I’m being investigated?
You will know you are being investigated as you will receive a letter from HMRC stating that they are looking into affairs.
As soon as you receive this letter, depending on the severity, you will need to contact a fraud solicitor even if this letter
states that they simply want a bit more paperwork. A fraud solicitor will know exactly what paperwork is required and
can ensure that any forms that you need to fill in are completed promptly to avoid further complications.
How far back can HMRC investigate?
This will vary depending on the facts of each case, but in severe cases of tax fraud investigations, HMRC has been
known to