HMRC Investigation Help | Barton Accountancy

HMRC investigations

First thing to do: take a breath.

Getting an HMRC letter is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a business owner. The language is deliberately formal, the deadlines feel tight, and the consequences feel huge. But the vast majority of HMRC enquiries turn out to be routine — a check of a VAT return, a query on a specific expense, or a random compliance review.

Send us the letter. We'll read it, tell you what it actually means in plain English, and take over the correspondence. Whether you're already our client or not, we're here to help.

How we help

Full HMRC representation.

Everything is included in your fixed monthly fee. No extras, no surprises.

Compliance checks

Routine HMRC checks on VAT, PAYE or corporation tax — we handle the response.

Aspect enquiries

HMRC asking about one specific thing on your return. Usually quick to resolve.

Full enquiries

Bigger, longer-running investigations into your whole tax position. We represent you throughout.

Voluntary disclosure

If something's been missed, coming to HMRC first is usually much cheaper than being found.

Tribunal support

If an enquiry escalates to tax tribunal, we work with specialist barristers.

Fee protection

Some of our clients have optional fee protection insurance, which covers our time on HMRC enquiries.

Sound familiar?

Most businesses don't have an accountant.
They have a filing service.

If any of these ring true, you're not getting what you should be.

01

You only hear from them at year-end

No check-ins, no planning, no conversation. Just a bill and a set of accounts you don't fully understand.

02

You're never sure where you stand

Your numbers are months out of date. You're making decisions based on gut feel, not real figures.

03

Surprise invoices keep landing

An email here, a phone call there — and suddenly your bill is twice what you expected. No one told you.

Common questions

Things people ask us.

What's the difference between an 'enquiry' and an 'investigation'?

Technically, they're the same thing — HMRC uses 'enquiry' for most routine reviews and 'investigation' for serious cases involving suspected fraud or significant undeclared income. Most clients who get an HMRC letter are dealing with a routine enquiry, not a serious investigation.

How much does HMRC representation cost?

For existing monthly clients, routine enquiries are included in your fee. For major enquiries or investigations, we quote upfront based on estimated time. For non-clients, we charge a fixed fee for initial review, then quote for ongoing work.

Should I reply to HMRC directly?

Not without talking to us first. The wording of a reply to HMRC matters — volunteering too much, or not enough, can both create problems. Send us the letter, we'll draft the response.

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