--- title: "HMRC Tax Dispute Lawyers" url: https://taxdisputes.co.uk/ date: 2011-06-08 modified: 2026-06-02 author: "Tax Dispute Solicitors" description: "Facing a tax dispute with HMRC? Our team of ex-HMRC tax barristers and solicitors can help you reach the best possible outcome. With decades of experience dealing directly with HMRC,..." word_count: 1168 --- # HMRC Tax Dispute Lawyers *Facing a tax dispute with HMRC?* Our team of [ex-HMRC](https://lexlaw.co.uk/hmrc-tax-dispute-lawyers/) [tax barristers and solicitors](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/expert-advice/) can help you reach the best possible outcome. With decades of experience dealing directly with HMRC, we know how to manage investigations, negotiate settlements, and defend your position using proven legal strategies. Whether you are an individual or a business, getting confidential legal advice from qualified lawyers - not from accountants - can make all the difference in protecting your finances and reputation. **ACCOUNTANTS HAVE NO LEGAL DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY ** Many taxpayers don’t realise that accountants are not legally required to keep your information confidential. Unlike [solicitors, who must protect every detail of your case by law](https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/gdpr/lpp-and-client-confidentiality), accountants can - and often do - disclose sensitive information to HMRC. This can severely damage your position in a dispute. Our [team of former HMRC solicitors and barristers](https://lexlaw.co.uk/practice-areas/taxation-solicitors-london/) are experts in protecting your rights and resolving tax problems. We know exactly how to manage your case, control what is disclosed, and negotiate effectively with HMRC. If needed, we can also appeal to tax tribunals or courts and explore mediation to achieve the best possible result. ## Resolving HMRC Tax Penalties & Investigations A tax dispute arises when you and [HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs)) disagree about how tax laws apply to your situation; whether that’s your income, deductions, credits, or an alleged underpayment. These disputes can start during tax returns, audits, or after HMRC issues an assessment or penalty. When that happens, it’s vital to have experienced legal representation. Our solicitor and barrister team regularly deal with HMRC to resolve issues, reduce penalties, and protect clients’ interests; often fixing mistakes made or worsened by accountants. ## We are ex-HMRC / Big 4 Tax Litigators Our [leading UK tax counsel](https://lexlaw.co.uk/hmrc-tax-dispute-lawyers/) served as a HMRC in-house tax barrister and as Head of Indirect Tax Litigation at Deloitte and National Tax Litigation Director at PWC. Our Senior Partner has worked at KMPG, Goldman Sachs and ING Barings and is dual-qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor-Advocate. Both lawyers will be available to you at the outset in your first advice conference. #### Taxpayers 39.1mTotal number of taxpayers in the UK (2025-26) #### Appeals 47,250Outstanding Tax Tribunal appeals (2023-24) #### Success 60%Tax appeals settled without hearing (2014) #### Resolved 7,081Tax appeals resolved by hearings (2023) *(Source: [HM Revenue & Customs](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs) and the [Ministry of Justice](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice))* We have decades of experience in negotiating with [HMRC](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs) and [managing appeals](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-tax-appeals-solicitors-london/) against their decisions at all levels. Members of the team include qualified [Tax Solicitors](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/tax-solicitors/) and [Tax Barristers](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/tax-barristers/) whom have vast experience of tax laws and first hand commercial, litigation and advocacy experience including previously working at HMRC as senior Tax Counsel and managing Tax Tribunal appeals and defending tax related CPS prosecutions. --- ## Instruct our Professional UK Tax Lawyers *Our dual-qualified Solicitor & Barrister team assess your case at the outset. We will quickly determine the merits and prospects of your tax dispute and then also advise you on how to obtain an optimal outcome.* ![CITY LAWYERS](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Middle-Temple-Badge-Logo-Lexlaw-Solicitors-Barristers-London.jpeg) ##### CITY LAWYERS Qualified tax solicitors & tax barristers with litigation and HMRC expertise. We are the only solicitors' firm in England to operate from professional chambers in Middle Temple, London. [About](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/expert-advice/)![HMRC EXPERTS](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/HMRC-Logo-Tax-Disputes-Litigation-Appeals-Tribunal-Lawyers-Solicitors-Barristers-UK-London.jpg) ##### HMRC EXPERTS Our ex-HMRC tax barristers can advise on tax matters such as appeals, penalties, investigations, Tax Tribunal appeals, VAT evasion, MTIC fraud, COP 8 or 9, seized goods, disguised remuneration. [Appeals](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-tax-appeals-solicitors-london/)![CONFIDENTIAL](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LawSociety_Use_Professional_Solicitor_LEXLAW_London.png) ##### CONFIDENTIAL Our Tax Litigators provide legally privileged & confidential advice (unlike accountants and other non-legal tax advisers). Our expert tax lawyers are regulated by the [SRA ](https://www.sra.org.uk/home/home.page)and [BSB](https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/). [SRA](https://www.sra.org.uk/home/home.page) --- ## Our Areas of Expertise vs HMRC: *We regularly take on HMRC tax cases in these areas:* ### HMRC TAX APPEALS Expertise in dealing with: [Penalty appeals: Self Assessment penalties; PAYE/NI; late payment penalties; late VAT returns; late returns; corporation tax penalties](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-tax-appeals-solicitors-london/); [HMRC Internal Reviews](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-internal-review-appeals-solicitors-london/); [Notice of appeal to HMRC](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-appeal-lawyers-london/) [HMRC Tax Appeals](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-tax-appeals-solicitors-london/) ### TAX TRIBUNAL REPRESENTATION [FTT, UTT & Court advocacy;](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/first-tier-tax-tribunal-solicitors-london/) indirect tax appeals representation (Income tax/VAT/excise duty/CGT/Corporation tax); [First Tier Tribunal; Upper Tier Tribunal](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/first-tier-tax-tribunal-solicitors-london/); [Out of Time Appeals ](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/late-hmrc-tax-appeals/) [Tribunal Advocacy](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/first-tier-tax-tribunal-solicitors-london/) ### TAX EVASION & HMRC INVESTIGATIONS [COP 8](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/tax-avoidance-cop-8-investigations-solicitors-london/),[ 9 & 11 investigations; section 144 enquiries](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/tax-evasion-hmrc-code-practice-9-investigations/); [tax avoidance schemes advice: EBTs, SDLT avoidance, IHT schemes; voluntary disclosure; offshore tax evasion](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/offshore-tax-evasion-tax-avoidance-solicitors-london/); disguised renumeration [Tax Evasion Defence](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-tax-investigations-solicitors-london/) ### TAX FRAUD ADVICE [Expert advice on MTIC (carousel) fraud](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/missing-trader-fraud-vat-evasion-solicitors-london/); [VAT Repayment fraud](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/repayment-fraud/); [excise diversion fraud](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/outward-excise-diversion-fraud/); [duty evasion](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-duty-evasion-fraud/); [Phoenix companies](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/hmrc-duty-evasion-fraud/); [oils duty fraud](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/oils-fraud-road-fuel-fraud/); [seized goods by HMRC/UKBA](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/goods-seized-by-hmrc-consignment-import-jewellery-seizure-cigarettes-tobacco/); [smuggling](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/smuggling/); [MARD](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/mutual-assistance-recovery-directive-recovery-of-foreign-taxes-by-hmrc-mard/) [Tax Fraud Defence](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/missing-trader-fraud-vat-evasion-solicitors-london/) --- ## Want elite advice from ex-HMRC Tax Counsel? *Want to challenge a HMRC tax penalty or fine? HMRC investigation? VAT issues? Problems with a disguised remuneration scheme or tax evasion? Need representation at the First Tier Tax Tribunal? * We are a [specialist](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/expert-advice/) leading City of London tax law firm based in [Middle Temple](https://www.middletemple.org.uk/) (Barristers' Inns of Court) adjacent to the Royal Courts of Justice. Our [expert tax solicitors and barristers](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/) have years of [experience](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/success/) in of working with and negotiating with [HMRC](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs) and managing appeals against their decisions at all levels. Members of the team include qualified [Tax Solicitors](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/tax-solicitors/) and [Tax Barristers](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/tax-barristers/) whom have vast experience of tax laws and first hand commercial, litigation and advocacy experience previously working in-house for multinational accountancy firms and as senior counsel at HMRC itself. Our [experienced](https://bankruptcypetitionandannulmentlaw.co.uk/) lawyers regularly carry out work in many tax disputes areas,  from advising clients on whether HMRC have followed the correct procedures to successfully challenging HMRC's policies. We have specialist knowledge in HMRC internal processes as well as ensuring that we are able to successfully challenge HMRC decisions in the Tax Tribunals. We have a team of established tax and duties specialist lawyers with a [proven track record](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/success/) of delivering authoritative solutions for our high net worth individual and corporate clients. *Please note **we do not undertake legal aid work** and are normally only instructed on HMRC tax disputes that are of a substantial value (this is because legal costs are rarely recoverable in Tax Tribunal cases). Please see our [costs page](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/funding/) for more information.* --- ## Don't risk using an accountant against HMRC... It is important to note that all client communications to **accountants **are ***not ***legally privileged and are easy for [HMRC](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs) to obtain; however, ***[communications to lawyers are legally privileged](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_professional_privilege)*** and highly confidential. Therefore it is beneficial to the [success](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/success/) of many of our clients' cases that we be instructed to instruct an experienced forensic accountant on your behalf. Although you may have instructed an accountant in relation to your accounts and tax matters for yourself or your business, in most cases your accountant should realistically only assist you in tax compliance matters whereas we specialise in assisting you in relation to any investigations that HMRC have brought against you. We regularly work with accountants to ensure that collectively we are able to obtain the best possible resolution to your matter. --- ## Featured guide on HMRC Disputes & Investigations ## The Company Director's Guide on managing HMRC disputes Our specialist tax team regularly provide market leading advice to directors of companies and limited liability partnerships. Our work has featured in [KSA Group](https://www.companyrescue.co.uk/guides-knowledge/guides/worried-directors-guide-3927/)'s [Worried Directors Guide 2018](https://lexlaw.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/KSA-Worried-Director-Guide-2018-LEXLAW-taxdisputes-solicitors-london.pdf), including our [authoritative guide on HMRC tax disputes and investigations.](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/KSA-Worried-Director-Guide-2018-LEXLAW-taxdisputes-solicitors-london-tax-disputes-hmrc-investigation.pdf) [Download](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/KSA-Worried-Director-Guide-2018-LEXLAW-taxdisputes-solicitors-london-tax-disputes-hmrc-investigation.pdf)![](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Guide-to-HMRC-tax-disputes-and-investigations-london-tax-lawyers.jpg) --- ## Latest HMRC Cases & UK Tax Litigation News *[UK Tax Litigation Legal News](https://taxdisputes.co.uk/news/) from London's leading tax solicitors & barristers:* ---