Tax returns Choosing a tax adviser

How do I choose a tax adviser?

tax consultant

Use a tax adviser who is part of a professional body

Whether you’re looking for someone to fill in your tax return for you or for some specific tax advice, it pays to get the right person for the job. Look for a tax adviser who belongs to a professional body.

If you decide to appoint a tax adviser to help you with an enquiry, you’ll need to fill in form 64-8 to authorise HMRC to speak directly with your adviser.

Don’t forget, though – responsibility for filing your tax return correctly and on time ultimately rests with you, and you must sign the return, even if you didn’t complete it. So if your tax adviser makes a mistake that you don’t spot, you may still incur penalties.

Tax advice qualifications

The problem with tax advice is that it is unregulated, and anyone can call themselves a tax adviser or accountant.

Your accountant or Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) may be able to help you with your tax affairs, particularly if they are already familiar with your financial circumstances. For more complicated tax matters, it is important to choose a professional with suitable qualifications, whether that person is an accountant, tax adviser or IFA.

To make sure you get someone properly qualified, look for an accountant or tax adviser who belongs to a professional body such as:

  • The Chartered Institute of Tax;
  • The Association of Tax Technicians;
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales;
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland;
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Northern Ireland and Ireland;
  • The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants;
  • The Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Northern Ireland and Ireland);
  • The Association of Accounting Technicians.

Get quotes

As you would if you were choosing a plumber or builder, contact two or three tax advisers to start with. Explain what you want help with, ask if that’s their area of expertise and get quotations from each adviser so you can compare the cost of using them.

Tax advisers are specialising more and more as the tax system becomes increasingly complex. Sole practitioners or advisers working in high-street practices often work a bit like GPs, in that they have a network of specialists that they refer to when necessary.

You may be able to keep costs down by doing as much of the leg-work as possible in advance. Make sure you pull together your bank statements, P60, P11D, payslips and details of interest and dividends received in advance of the meeting with your adviser.

Don’t forget

Ask the advisers about their qualifications and check if they are members of a professional body with recognised training and complaints procedures. Don’t be scared to ask for evidence that the adviser is a specialist in the area you need help in.

Free tax advice

If you have a low income (under around £15,000 per year) you can get tax help for free. TaxAid helps anyone on a low income. Visit the TaxAid website for more details, or call the helpline on 0845 120 3779 between 10am and noon, Monday to Thursday.

Another source of free tax advice is Tax Help for Older People, which helps those over 60.

Visit the Low Income Reform Tax Group’s website for useful information for pensioners, students and low-income workers who may need help with their tax affairs.

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