HMRC has contacted me or my business

The wider picture

What else could this affect?

An investigation rarely stays in one place. These are the areas that, depending on the facts, may also need to be considered.

• Your financial position

  An investigation can create financial pressure or scrutiny that may need to be managed as part of a wider strategy.

• Your business

  Where you run or own a business, an investigation can create commercial and operational questions that should be assessed early.

• Your regulator or professional body

  A regulator or governing body may take an interest in the same facts, and whether or when to engage should be considered with advice.

• Civil litigation

  Some matters run alongside civil claims; how the criminal and civil positions interact should be considered together.

• Your reputation

  An allegation, even one that is never charged, can create reputational exposure that benefits from a considered, strategic approach.

• Your assets

  Some investigations raise questions about assets or restraint; where relevant, this should be assessed early with advice.

Before you act

The decision you may be facing next

People in your position often face one of these decisions before anything else. Each one is best made with advice, not under pressure.

• Should I provide documents that have been requested?

• Should I agree to attend an interview?

• Should I seek pre-charge representation now?

A parallel process

If this affects your profession

For accountants and tax professionals, criminal, regulatory and civil questions can arise from the same facts and are best handled together.