Corporate Tax

Corporate tax services

Everyone wants their business to be as tax efficient as possible. But with new, tougher regulations being introduced, you need to understand the level of risk and compliance required. What’s more, as you grow, so does the complexity of your tax requirements. You know that a good relationship with HMRC is fundamental to protecting your reputation but getting everything right can feel like a huge burden.

Our corporate tax experts work closely with companies and groups of all sizes and sectors, tailoring our services to you. Using a wealth of experience in corporate tax, an extensive knowledge of prevailing practice and a down-to-earth, personal approach, we will make sure that your planning is robust, your reliefs are maximised, your compliance obligations are met - and your overall tax risk is effectively managed.

Here are a few of the services we offer:

Tax compliance and reporting
iXBRL services
Tax accounting under UK GAAP and IFRS
Corporate losses and group relief optimisation
Tax impact of debt structures, including corporate interest restriction
Instalments – large and vary large
Senior Accounting Officer regime and publishing your tax strategy
Tax implications of operating internationally
Innovation reliefs
Corporate restructures
M&A Taxation
Relief on capital expenditure, including capital allowances

Corporate Restructures

Having the correct structure is essential to ensuring tax efficiency, whether you are looking to sell, grow or diversify your business.

Our restructuring team will work with you to gain an understanding of your business objectives, then provide the technical expertise to put the appropriate structure in place in a tax efficient manner.

This will include consideration of the Inheritance Tax position for shareholders, the availability of Business Asset Disposal Relief and/or Substantial Shareholdings Exemption on the future sale of the business or part of it, and the ability of the business to attract external investment.

Our team will bring their considerable technical experience and commerciality to help you in areas such as the following:

Corporate reorganisations, including demergers, for example to separate trading and investment businesses.
Restructuring for asset protection, for example using a holding company structure to separate a property from a trading business.
Company purchase of own shares; subject to satisfying eligibility criteria, can be used to return money to shareholders. With HMRC clearance, can potentially obtain 10% tax rate through Entrepreneurs’ Relief.
Business structure advice, including ownership and advice on legal form on set up and company share restructuring advice.
Advise of the Substantial shareholding exemption which can allow the sale of subsidiaries free of capital gains tax. Detailed review of criteria required.
Internal group restructuring, e.g. hiving up/ across the trade and assets of certain divisions and then possible liquidation of dormant subsidiaries to simplify group structure.

M&A Tax

Whether you’re buying a business or selling one, our M&A Tax team can guide you through the transaction.

If you’re not an expert, dealing with all of the tax issues which can arise on mergers and acquisitions can be incredibly time-consuming and complex. That’s why we’ve dedicated our careers to understanding and tackling them, so you can focus on making the most of the next step in your growth.

For buyers, our experience in carrying out tax due diligence ensures you’re protected from any historic tax issues in the target company – with help from specialists in corporate taxes, employment taxes and VAT.

For sellers, we can help with planning, anticipating and dealing with any purchaser concerns before the process kicks off to make sure you get the best price; pre-sale structuring to maximise your net proceeds; managing the impact of any issues arising on diligence; and providing advice on Inheritance Tax planning for your hard-earned proceeds.

From conglomerates entering into multi-stakeholder transactions to start-ups qualifying for Business Asset Disposal Relief (previously known as Entrepreneurs Relief), we continually liaise with your lawyers and our own Corporate Finance colleagues to make the process as painless as possible – and the result one to celebrate.

Here are a few of our services:

Planning to ensure you have the right structure for sale
Tax due diligence or pre-diligence review
Advice on the tax implications of funding and deal structures
Review of tax in cash flow models
Assistance with tax aspects of sale and purchase agreements
Inheritance Tax planning post-deal

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