A clear plan, cleared in advance, then the steps in the right order.

There are six. You get in touch and we respond the same working day. We have a free first call to understand your company and goals. We send a scoping letter setting out what we'll do and the fee. We gather information, analyse the options and give you a written recommendation. Where needed, we apply to HMRC for clearance. Then we implement the plan alongside your accountant and solicitor.

A scoping letter, sometimes called an engagement letter, confirms in writing what we've agreed to do, what's included, what we need from you, who else is involved, the agreed fee and the expected timetable. It's sent before any work starts, so everyone knows where they stand. If the scope needs to change later, for example because a buyer appears, we update it with you first.

We listen first: what the company does, who owns it, what's prompting the question and what you'd like the structure to achieve. Then we ask about cash, property, borrowing, shareholders and any dates that matter. By the end, we'll outline the options worth exploring, the main tax points for each, whether clearance is likely to be needed and what further work would involve.

A typical holding company insertion takes 4 to 6 weeks from the first call to the share exchange. HMRC's 30-day clearance window is the main part of that, so we prepare the analysis and the clearance application promptly once we start. Stamp duty adjudication and the Companies House filings follow the share exchange. Larger restructures, or those with property moving between companies, take longer.

Because it gives certainty before the shares are issued. A clearance confirms HMRC accepts that the anti-avoidance rules shouldn't apply to the arrangements as described. Once shares have been exchanged, the transaction can't easily be unwound, so it's better to know HMRC's view first. Applications for the capital gains and income tax clearances are usually made together in one letter.

We do. The application sets out the companies, the shareholders, the steps in order, the commercial reasons for the restructure and the provisions under which clearance is sought, usually with a structure diagram. It's sent to HMRC's Clearance and Counteraction Team. We review it with you before it goes, because it must give a full and accurate picture to be relied on.

HMRC can ask for further information within 30 days of the application, and then has 30 days from receiving the answers to make its decision. We prepare the response with you and send it promptly. Questions usually concern the commercial reasons for the restructure or what will happen afterwards. A clear, complete application in the first place makes follow-up questions less likely.

We agree at the start who does what. Typically we design the tax structure and the step plan, handle the clearance applications and review each document against the plan. Your solicitor prepares the legal documents, such as the share exchange agreement and resolutions. Your accountant updates the books and handles the annual compliance. We keep everyone working from the same timetable.

Yes. Our recommendations are set out in writing, with the reasoning behind them and the main conditions and risks explained in plain English. That gives you something to share with fellow shareholders, your accountant and your solicitor, and a record of why each decision was made. Key points agreed on calls are confirmed by email so nothing relies on memory.

Omar Aswat, a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), leads every holding company engagement personally, from the first call to the final filing. He's supported by a Big 4-trained team of ICAEW and ACCA Chartered Accountants and an in-house legal team. You won't be passed to a junior team or between departments, so you won't need to explain your company and your plans twice.

Usually the last two or three years' accounts, the shareholder register, the articles of association, any shareholders' agreement, details of property and significant assets, loans to or from shareholders, and your plans for the next few years. Where a sale is in view, we'll ask what stage talks have reached. After the first call we send a specific list, so you only gather what's relevant.

We respond the same working day, throughout the work. We plan around the dates that matter to you, such as a year end, a board meeting or a buyer's timetable. If something changes or an urgent question comes up, for example from a lender or a buyer's lawyers, tell us and we'll prioritise it.

We help with the follow-through: stamp duty adjudication on the share transfer, Companies House filings, what needs to appear on tax returns, and any conditions that must keep being met. We'll point out ongoing points, such as how the group's corporation tax limits change and how dividends should move. Your accountant then carries on with the annual compliance, with a clear handover note.

Yes. Many owners start with a review of their current position: how the company or group is taxed today, what the main options are and what each would involve. You can then decide whether to go further. Sometimes the review is all that's needed, because the answer is to keep things as they are or wait until the numbers justify a change.

Most of our work happens by video call, phone and email, which suits owner-managers across the UK and fits around running a business. Some clients like to meet at a key stage, such as when all the shareholders need to agree a plan or when the next generation is joining the conversation. Ask if an in-person meeting would help.

Three things mostly. Share the information we ask for promptly, so the analysis reflects your real position. Tell us straight away if anything changes, such as a new shareholder, a buyer's approach, a large dividend or a property purchase. And don't issue or transfer shares, move assets or sign documents until we've confirmed it's time, because the order of the steps matters.

We charge one fee for the whole restructure, agreed in writing before any work starts, so you know the cost before you commit. Fees are exclusive of VAT, and you can pay in full or over 2 monthly instalments. There are three packages, Essential, Premium and No Risk, each quoted on request once we understand your company. The first call is free, and you don't commit to anything by having it.

Within 1 working day of you telling us about your structure. We need the basics: who owns the shares, what the company or group looks like, what you want to achieve and any dates that matter. The Book a call form or a free first call is usually enough. We then confirm the exact fee for the package that suits you, in writing, and it covers the whole restructure.

The No Risk package includes a money-back guarantee if HMRC clearance is not obtained, full HMRC enquiry defence at no extra charge, and 6 months of tax support after completion. It suits owners who want certainty about the outcome as well as the cost. Like the Essential and Premium packages, it's quoted on request as a single fee, agreed in writing before work starts and payable in full or over 2 monthly instalments.