Tax Investigation Services
Calm, expert defence when HMRC calls.
An HMRC investigation can land out of nowhere and consume a year of your life if it is handled badly. Heartlands' Tax Investigations team has represented hundreds of UK taxpayers through aspect enquiries, full enquiries, cross-tax compliance checks, Code of Practice 8 and Code of Practice 9 (Contractual Disclosure Facility) cases, Worldwide Disclosure Facility submissions and the let-property campaign. We deal with HMRC directly from day one, control the flow of information, prepare every reconciliation and supporting schedule, and negotiate settlements that are fair, defensible and as low as the facts allow. Whether your case is a routine VAT compliance check or a serious fraud investigation, you get a chartered specialist on your side, a fixed fee, and a clear plan from the first call.
What this service does
Tax investigations fall into a wide spectrum: random aspect enquiries on a single figure in your return, full enquiries covering an entire year, cross-tax compliance checks coordinating Income Tax, Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE, COP8 fraud (without admission) cases, COP9 cases under the Contractual Disclosure Facility, and disclosures under HMRC's targeted campaigns (let property, worldwide disclosure, offshore funds). Heartlands manages every stage end-to-end: initial response and scoping, professional clearance with your existing accountant where needed, preparation of reconciliations and disclosure reports, negotiation of tax, interest and penalty positions, and appeals through HMRC's internal review and the First-tier Tribunal where required.
- Take control of the investigation from day one and limit its scope
- Protect your reputation, business continuity and mental wellbeing
- Secure the lowest defensible settlement of tax, interest and penalties
- Establish behaviours that prevent future HMRC challenge
- Removes direct contact between you and HMRC investigators
- Prevents avoidable disclosures and over-payments under pressure
- Brings structure, evidence and chartered authority to the response
- Identifies eligibility for unprompted disclosure penalty reductions
Service capabilities
The measurable upside
Frees you from HMRC correspondence so you can keep running the business while the investigation is managed for you.
Skilled representation routinely cuts assessed liabilities by 20–60% versus an unrepresented response.
Privileged file handling, encrypted document exchange and strict information control limit collateral damage.
Future filings reviewed and tightened to remove the risk indicators that triggered the enquiry in the first place.
Clear case plan, single point of contact and weekly updates replace the stress of unstructured HMRC letters.
Sectors we work with
What sets Heartlands apart
Chartered partners with 15+ years across UK SMEs, owner-managed businesses and scaling startups.
ICAEW, ACCA and CTA qualified specialists handling every engagement end-to-end.
From onboarding and software setup to filing, reporting and HMRC representation — one accountable team.
Birmingham-based with a direct line to your partner. No call centres, no offshoring, no surprises.
We train your team on Xero, QuickBooks and reporting workflows, then keep the system healthy month after month.
How we deliver, end-to-end
- 01ConsultationA free 30-minute scoping call to understand goals, structure, deadlines and pain points.
- 02AssessmentWe audit your books, filings and software stack to surface risks and quick wins before quoting.
- 03PlanningA written engagement plan: scope, deliverables, deadlines and a fixed monthly fee — no hourly billing.
- 04ImplementationSoftware configured, ledgers migrated, controls set up and the team onboarded with zero downtime.
- 05TestingReconciliations, trial runs and sign-off on the first month's outputs before going live.
- 06TrainingHands-on training for your team plus written SOPs so the process is sustainable, not dependent on us.
- 07Ongoing supportContinuous filing, monthly reviews, unlimited email support and proactive deadline management.
Frequently asked questions
What our clients say
Heartlands turned our tax investigation services from a year-end headache into a quiet, predictable process. Their partner-led approach is the difference.
Switched from a high-street firm and immediately recovered tax we didn't know we'd overpaid. Communication is faster, advice is sharper.
Genuinely proactive — they call us before deadlines, not the other way round. Fixed fees, no surprises and our books have never been cleaner.
Ready to talk about tax investigation services?
A free 30-minute scoping call with a chartered partner. No obligation, no sales pitch — just clear answers and a fixed quote if it's a fit.