Hazlewoods
Tax Investigation Service (TIS)
Don’t get blown away by an HMRC enquiry
Our Tax Investigation Service provides expert support and professional representation if you or your business are selected for an HMRC enquiry or investigation.
What is a Tax Investigation?
- Many tax investigations occur randomly. However, unusual fluctuations, undisclosed accounts, and irregular spending can also trigger an enquiry into individuals and companies.
- HMRC has the authority to inspect business documents and assets at your premises, request additional documents and information, conduct unannounced inspections, and investigate matters going back up to six years.
- These investigations can be disruptive, intrusive, and costly. When HMRC investigates, the process can extend for a year or more, leading to mounting expenses and increased stress levels.
Total tax revenues [billion]
HMRC compliance checks in 2026/27
The average cost of an enquiry
HMRC enquiries
HMRC could select you for a tax enquiry at random, regardless of whether you have done anything wrong. Even if no errors are found, a basic enquiry could typically cost more than £4,000 in professional fees and last around a year and a half.
HMRC has extensive powers when conducting compliance checks and investigations and may:
- Request detailed financial records and supporting documentation
- Review multiple taxes and accounting periods
- Visit business premises to inspect records
- Challenge accounting treatments and tax positions
- Look back many years where errors or omissions are suspected
- Extend enquiries where wider issues are identified
Our service
Our Tax Investigation Service is an annual subscription, backed by an insurance policy held with Bspoke Commercial Limited, providing support and protection if you, or your business, are selected for an HMRC enquiry or investigation. The service includes:
- Full professional representation from our tax and accountancy specialists, who know you and your tax affairs.
- Handle HMRC on your behalf by dealing with all correspondence and attending all meetings
- Expert guidance to help achieve the best possible outcome.
- Cover for qualifying defence costs of up to £100,000.
- Personal protection for directors, partners and their spouses where a business subscription is in place and we prepare their tax return.
- Access to an out-of-hours helpline for unannounced HMRC visits.
Case studies
Incorrect information
HMRC opened an enquiry into an individual suggesting a client had not declared all of their income on their tax return. HMRC then refused to disclose to the client what information they held.
The enquiry lasted for over three years and cost over £15,000 to deal with in accountancy fees alone.
It turned out that HMRC’s information was incorrect and that no tax penalties or interest were due. However the accountant’s fees were still settled under the Tax Investigation Service.
Cross-tax enquiry
HMRC launched a ‘cross-tax enquiry’ into a manufacturing business that included a full review of the entire corporation tax return and four years of PAYE and VAT records.
From the outset it became clear that HMRC were unsure exactly what they were looking for and were undergoing a fishing expedition.
The questioning became increasingly onerous and seemingly endless. After one meeting alone, dozens of questions followed. Despite the best efforts of the advisor, the enquiry dragged on for over two years, resulting in only small adjustments. Over £20,000 of fees were settled under the Tax Investigation Service.
Did you know?
Last year HMRC collected over £50 billion from tax investigations and enquiries. They also revealed that in the year to 2025, it brought in a record total of £966.4 billion in taxes, £90 billion more than the previous year.
The stress and cost of an investigation can be considerable and our expertise can save you time and money in the long run. There has never been a better time to subscribe to our Tax Investigation Service. Subscribing clients will also have free access to a specialist unannounced HMRC Visits Helpline.
HMRC can visit at any time and we believe it is vitally important you can get the advice you need, when you need it. Subscribe to our Tax Investigation Service today to protect yourself from the costs involved in a tax investigation.
It could happen to you.
Every year, HMRC carries out enquiries into the tax affairs of an increasing number of individuals and businesses in the UK. Many people find an HMRC enquiry disruptive, intrusive, stressful and ultimately expensive.
There does not need to be a reason for HMRC to check your tax affairs. If you submit a tax return you can be selected at random, even if you have done nothing wrong.
There has been a surge in compliance cases opened by HMRC as it ramps up tax investigations work. 299,000 checks had been opened during 2025/26. A tax investigation can cost you thousands of pounds in accountancy fees and can often drag on for years. The average cost of an investigation is £3,800 in accountancy fees.
Nothing to hide?
Many tax enquiries are conducted at random. Unfortunately even innocent taxpayers get caught up in the process and are under threat of investigation. Whether or not there is an issue with your tax affairs, an investigation is a time-consuming process that can rack up substantial accountancy fees.
We have taken out an insurance policy in our own name that is backed by Bespoke Fee Protection, one of the UK’s leading providers. Our policy enables us to provide you with expert advice and peace of mind knowing we will work on your case to resolve the situation up to our service limits.
Download a copy of the Service Summary
Download a copy of the TIS Booklet
TAX INVESTIGATION SERVICE 2026/27
APPLICATION FORM (for the period of 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027)
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