Helping business owners deal with tax arrears

For this month’s news story we thought we’d highlight our non-core, but extremely important, area of our business – namely helping business owners’ deal with tax arrears.

Over the past 10 years or so we’ve been dealing with HMRC in their various forms, and since early 2009 when the recession started to bite we’ve been really active in this area. Since this time we’ve helped many dozens of businesses negotiate or re-negotiate workable payment terms with HMRC. We’ve offered a couple of client testimonials below. Before we move onto these comments, it’s worth offering a few pointers to business owners and finance directors.

1.     Don’t ignore the letters that arrive, once your case has become live, it won’t go away by ignoring it.

2.     HMRC have been very helpful in offering time to pay arrangements. Whilst these are not coming to an end, there is value to you in having a third party negotiate on your behalf as the scheme has been tightened significantly.

3.     There is a point where the taxman loses patience with the business owner or their management and begins to take action. This is not the end of the road, but a realisation that you must take advice and engage with a specialist firm.

If you are at the early stage of arrears, or about to miss your first payment, be it PAYE or VAT, it is important to communicate effectively with the relevant department.

Here are some recent testimonials demonstrating the quality of Beer & Young’s work in this area. Please contact us to talk about any issues you have.

Wholesaler / Distributor

Our business had been re-financed but had significant historic arrears with HMRC. We reached the point where HMRC moved our case to the solicitors’ office who would then issue a winding up petition. We called Beer &Young who swung into action straight away. They were able to persuade HMRC to take an immediate step back, giving us the chance to re-submit proposals for repayment. Beer & Young managed the whole process for us and we’re delighted that they were able to negotiate workable terms for us. I recommend any business with HMRC problems to contact them. They will act immediately, clearly have an excellent reputation within HMRC and are able to deliver results. Thanks again for your help.

AW, Director

Manufacturer of Specialist Fastenings

“Before I met with Beer & Young, my Company was in serious financial difficulties.  I had been through a poor trading period and our tenant had recently gone bust.  I

had creditors chasing me and we had arrears of both PAYE and VAT.  The sales finance company were restricting our facility and I was being advised to liquidate the business, which was the last thing I wanted to do. Beer & Young suggested the Company propose a CVA and on my behalf they talked to HMRC, the sales finance company as well as some key trade suppliers with the result that the CVA was agreed.  Thanks to Beer & Young, my company has survived the crisis and now sales have recovered to record levels I am confident my business has a future.”

Owner