ETC Tax

13/10/2026

VAT Disputes
You may only get one proper opportunity to produce the evidence!

When a significant VAT dispute begins, don't wait to see how far HMRC takes it before thinking about evidence.

Establish the facts you need to prove.
Identify the evidence supporting each one.
Find the gaps.
Make sure the numbers reconcile.
And do it early.

Click here for further reading https://etctax.co.uk/vat-disputes-build-the-evidence-before-you-need-it/

04/10/2026

Tax can be tricky terrain… but that’s something our team is used to navigating, unlike the hills of the Cheshire countryside on quad bikes!

If only every day looked like this...

Some were faster than others; there was plenty of sheep swerving, flying cow pats, and yes… one of our tax advisers got a little too well acquainted with a tree! But we live to fight HMRC for another day! 🌳

Thankfully, everyone made it back in one piece (just about!).

A brilliant team day and a reminder that, while we might be more comfortable navigating complex tax matters, we’re always up for tackling some different terrain.

Here are a few of the action shots…

03/10/2026

Selling your business: Share sale or asset sale?

When selling a business, it’s not just how much you sell it for that matters; how the deal is structured can be just as important.

A share sale and an asset sale can have very different tax and commercial consequences for both the buyer and seller.

Understanding the difference early can help you plan ahead, avoid unexpected tax surprises and enter negotiations better prepared.

🔗 Share Sale vs Asset Sale – read our latest article to understand the key tax differences: https://etctax.co.uk/share-sale-vs-asset-sale/

26/09/2026

If you're planning to sell your business, one of the first questions you're likely to ask is, "How much tax will I have to pay?"

Obviously, the answer depends on several factors, but one relief that often comes into the conversation is Business Asset Disposal Relief, and the fact is that if you qualify, it can reduce the CGT owed.

Want to find out more?

Click here https://etctax.co.uk/business-asset-disposal-relief-what-every-business-owner-should-know-before-selling/ for further reading.

24/09/2026

Thinking about selling your business?

Don’t leave the tax planning until the deal is underway.

Finding the right buyer and agreeing on the right price might be front of mind, but planning ahead can help identify tax issues, avoid unwanted surprises and put you in a stronger position when negotiations begin.

Selling your business?

Check out our Tax Planning Checklist below for the key things to consider before putting your business on the market.

https://etctax.co.uk/the-tax-planning-checklist-before-selling-your-business/

If you're thinking about selling your business, it's easy to focus on the big-ticket items. Finding the right buyer, agreeing a price and negotiating the

20/09/2026

Selling your business? The buyer won’t just be looking at the profits.

For many business owners, selling a company is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

After years of building the business, the focus is understandably on finding the right buyer and securing the best possible price.

But a potential buyer isn’t just buying the future of your business; they’re buying its history too.

That means looking closely at its tax affairs and asking:

👉 Have all tax obligations been met?
👉 Are there any historic errors or uncertainties?
👉 Could an unexpected tax liability emerge after the sale?
👉 Is there anything that could affect the price or delay the deal?

A pre-sale tax health check can help identify and address potential issues before they are uncovered during the buyer’s due diligence.

Because when you’re preparing to sell, fewer surprises can mean a smoother transaction.

Thinking about selling your business? Check out our latest article: https://etctax.co.uk/pre-sale-tax-health-checks/

Why not speak to ETC Tax about getting your tax position sale-ready?

15/09/2026

06/09/2026

Family Investment Companies: 15 Questions People Ask Before Setting One Up
https://etctax.co.uk/family-investment-companies-your-q-answered/

A Family Investment Company (FIC s a UK-resident private limited company where the shareholders are family members. Could it be the right way to manage and pass on family wealth?

FICs have become an increasingly popular option used for family succession and tax planning, allowing founders to retain control whilst passing wealth to future generations in a tax-efficient manner.

But they aren’t right for everyone.

Before setting one up, it’s important to understand how they work, the tax implications, the costs involved and whether a FIC genuinely fits your long-term objectives.

In our latest article, we answer 15 of the most common questions people ask about Family Investment Companies.

If a FIC is something you’ve been considering, reading this article is a good place to start.

04/09/2026

Should we be teaching more about tax and money at school?

The kids are back at school (finally), and we’ve just received a letter outlining some of the topics they’ll be covering as part of 'Life Programme' in Years 10 and 11.

Tax
Income
Debt and borrowing
Saving
Investing

It was great to see these included.

Understanding money is such an important life skill, and becoming financially and tax-aware from a young age can only be a good thing.

For many people, their first real introduction to tax is when they receive their first payslip, start their own business, begin investing or suddenly find themselves needing to complete a tax return.

Giving young people a basic understanding before they reach that point could help them make more informed decisions about tax, earning, saving, borrowing and investing as they get older.

We spend a lot of time at ETC Tax helping people understand the tax consequences of financial decisions, so perhaps the earlier we start that education, the better.

What would you like to see taught in the school curriculum when it comes to tax, money and personal finance?

I'd be interested to hear what people think. 👇

30/08/2026

The inheritance tax planning mistake we see time and time again

“Can I just put my house in my children’s names and avoid Inheritance Tax?”

It’s one of the most common questions we’re asked, and on the face of it, it sounds like a simple solution.

If you no longer own the house, surely it won’t form part of your estate?

Unfortunately, Inheritance Tax isn’t quite that simple.

Transferring your home to your children while continuing to live there can create unexpected tax consequences and, without the right planning, could leave you in a worse position than if you did nothing at all.

So, before signing over the family home, it’s important to understand exactly what the tax rules mean for you.

If only it were that easy…

👉 Read our latest article to find out more:
https://etctax.co.uk/can-i-avoid-inheritance-tax/