Barristers – Resolving Serious HMRC Tax Issues

It Happens

Even the most diligent barristers can fall behind on tax or VAT obligations.

Chambers life is demanding — long hours in court, travel, fluctuating income, and the complexities of self-employment can all contribute to missed filings or delayed payments.

Often, it’s not intentional. Work pressure, illness, or difficult personal circumstances can cause even experienced professionals to lose control of their financial affairs.

What matters is not what happened — but that it’s now addressed properly, before HMRC takes action.

We Have Helped Many Barristers – We Can Help You

If you are in arrears with your tax returns, VAT filings, or accounting records, we can help you bring everything back up to date and negotiate with HMRC to reduce penalties and interest.

We assist barristers facing:

• Multiple years of unfiled accounts or tax returns
• VAT and self-assessment arrears
• COP8 or COP9 investigations
• Time-to-pay arrangements
• Voluntary disclosures of historic non-compliance

Our approach is calm, structured, and confidential. We’ve helped many professionals in similar positions resolve serious issues and regain financial stability.

It’s More Common Than You Think

While most barristers manage their affairs carefully, the number of those who experience serious tax or VAT problems is higher than many realise.

Over the last three decades, hundreds of barristers have faced HMRC action, often after years of silence.

The reasons vary — lost contact, ill health, work overload — but the result is always the same: increasing anxiety and financial pressure.

We’ve helped numerous barristers turn these situations around and reach fair settlements with HMRC.

What Do Serious HMRC Issues Look Like for Barristers?

They often start small — a missed VAT return, an unpaid tax bill, or an accountant relationship that breaks down.

But over time, they can grow into:

• Four or more years of unfiled returns
• Substantial tax and VAT arrears
• Penalty and interest accumulation
• HMRC bankruptcy proceedings

Once liabilities exceed £50,000, HMRC treats the matter as serious — but with experienced representation, penalties and outcomes can be significantly improved.

Why Barristers Delay Acting

In our experience, it’s rarely about avoidance — it’s about fear and shame.

Barristers are used to managing complex legal cases for others but find it difficult to face their own financial irregularities.

Many worry about reputational damage or disciplinary consequences.

In reality, early disclosure and proactive engagement almost always lead to better outcomes — both financially and professionally.

The Impact of HMRC Action

The consequences of inaction can be severe:

• Bankruptcy petitions from HMRC
• Professional stress and reputational damage
• Loss of focus and reduced practice capacity
• Long-term financial recovery challenges

We have seen how the process affects not just the individual barrister, but their families and practice. Our goal is to resolve issues quickly, discreetly, and with the least possible disruption.

There Is Always a Solution

We can:

1. Conduct a confidential review of your tax and VAT position.
2. Prepare and submit a voluntary disclosure to HMRC.
3. Negotiate directly to minimise penalties and surcharges.
4. Agree a manageable payment arrangement if required.
5. Ensure full compliance going forward — so the problem never returns.

Even in cases spanning many years, there is always a path to resolution — provided honesty and full disclosure are made.