Tax Enquiry Fee Protection Service

Insurance-backed protection. Professional representation. Total peace of mind.

What is our Tax Enquiry Fee Protection Service?

Our Tax Enquiry Fee Protection Service is an insurance-backed service that protects you and your business from the professional fees we incur on your behalf if HMRC opens an enquiry, compliance check, visit or investigation into your tax affairs.

HMRC enquiries can be time-consuming, intrusive and stressful. Even where everything is correct and no additional tax is due, the cost of professional representation can quickly run into thousands of pounds.

This service means those costs are covered, allowing you to focus on running your business and managing your personal affairs, without worrying about unexpected accountancy fees.

The policy runs on an annual basis and provides cover of up to £100,000 per claim, with no excess.

Why might you need Tax Enquiry Fee Protection?

HMRC has wide-ranging powers and increasing access to third-party data, including information from banks, property records, digital platforms and payment providers. As a result, any tax return can be selected for review.

Being selected for an enquiry does not mean you’ve done anything wrong. Many investigations:

are entirely random
arise from minor inconsistencies
form part of sector-wide HMRC campaigns
are triggered by automated data matching

Regardless of the outcome, you remain responsible for the professional fees involved in dealing with HMRC. Enquiries can last months or even years, requiring detailed responses, meetings and ongoing correspondence.

By engaging us from the outset, we can:

respond accurately and robustly on your behalf
limit disruption to your business or personal finances
help bring matters to a timely conclusion

Tax Enquiry Fee Protection removes the financial uncertainty from that process.

What does the service cover?

Our Tax Enquiry Fee Protection Service provides insurance-backed professional representation for HMRC enquiries, compliance checks and investigations relating to:

Corporation Tax Self-Assessment
Income Tax Self-Assessment
PAYE
VAT visits
National Insurance
Construction Industry Scheme
IR35
Stamp Duty Land Tax
Employer Compliance Visits
Check of Employer records
Interventions
Capital Gains Tax
National Minimum Wage
Gift Aid Legislation and regulations
P11D
Inheritance Tax
Child Tax Credits
HMRC use of pre-dispute information
and inspection powers under schedule 36

Cover applies whether or not a dispute has yet arisen.

Key features

£100,000 fee indemnity per claim
No excess
Professional representation by us
Insurance-backed protection

What’s included beyond HMRC enquiries?

In addition to HMRC enquiry and investigation cover, the service also gives you access to My Business Hub – an online compliance and support platform designed to help you grow, manage and protect your business with confidence.

My Business Hub brings together trusted guidance, practical tools and expert support across key operational risk areas, helping you stay compliant and make informed decisions as your business evolves.

Through the platform, you have access to:

Unlimited telephone support from UK-based specialists across HR, employment law and health & safety
A library of up-to-date policies, contracts and compliant documents, all downloadable and ready to use
Clear guidance on topics such as absence management, termination, maternity and family leave, flexible working, staff handbooks, fire safety, DSE and manual handling
Regular updates to help you stay on top of regulatory change and best practice

This support is designed to reduce risk before problems arise, complementing the financial protection offered by the Tax Enquiry Fee Protection Service.

All access is included at no additional cost.

Who the service is for

Who can benefit from Tax Enquiry Fee Protection?

Our service is available to:

Private clients
Including individuals with rental income of up to £50,000.

Sole traders and self-employed individuals
Including those with rental income over £50,000.

Limited companies and partnerships
With an annual turnover of up to £25 million*.

Larger businesses
With an annual turnover of more than £25 million*.

* Where Ward Williams acts as the tax return agent for directors, partners or company secretaries (including spouses or civil partners), the business fee also covers their personal tax returns at no extra cost, provided annual gross rental income is below £50,000 and there is no self-employment income. Otherwise, an additional Sole Trader fee will apply.

Why arrange cover now?

HMRC enquiries typically relate to returns already submitted. Once an enquiry has started, it is too late to put cover in place.

Arranging Tax Enquiry Fee Protection now ensures:

future HMRC enquiries are covered
professional fees don’t become an unexpected burden
you have expert representation from day one

It’s a simple, cost-effective way to protect yourself against a risk that applies to everyone, not just those who have made mistakes.

Why Tax Enquiry Fee Protection matters

Case Studies

The examples below illustrate the types of HMRC enquiries that can arise, and how they are typically handled in practice. They highlight why professional representation and protection against the associated fees, can be so important.

A lengthy tax enquiry with no errors found

HMRC opened an enquiry into a tax return. The enquiry lasted 2 years with various requests for information and data from the client. Fees were requested at several points and were authorised to enable their accountant to continue to deal with the enquiry on their behalf. The enquiry was concluded with no amendments being made to the return. Total fees on this claim amounted to £19,000, which were paid in full.

A routine VAT visit that required further follow-up

A VAT inspection was arranged with the client at their premises. Fees were authorised to allow their accountant to attend the meeting. During the inspection HMRC raised a concern about the systems used by the client to store their data. Following the visit recommendations were made as to how the client could make improvements. The enquiry was closed and all fees were paid for the visit and subsequent letters that their accountant had to send to HMRC. The fees totalled £3,400, which included travel time to the meeting and mileage costs. This was paid in full.

A CIS enquiry that led to a positive outcome

An enquiry was opened into a scaffolding company’s Construction Industry Scheme payments. The enquiry lasted for 6 months and resulted in the client receiving a refund from HMRC. The total fees for their accountant to defend this enquiry were £2,400 which were paid in full.

Research & Development

HMRC continues with their campaign, heavily scrutinising R&D claims. As a result of this, the number of enquiries HMRC have raised over the last financial year has seen a dramatic increase. Due to the complexity around the R&D rules, expert evaluation and representation is required. This results in the average cost of defending an R&D enquiry being in the region of £3,000, with some running to tens of thousands of pounds.

Frequently asked questions

Does a tax enquiry mean I’ve done something wrong?
No. Many HMRC enquiries are routine or random. Even where no errors are found, professional representation is still required throughout the process.

Can I take out cover once HMRC has contacted me?
No. Cover must be in place before HMRC opens an enquiry or compliance check.

Are professional fees covered even if no tax is due?
Yes. Fees are covered regardless of the outcome, up to the agreed policy limit.

How long does the policy run for?
The service operates on an annual basis. The service period runs from May 2025 to April 2026. Renewal terms and pricing for the following year apply from May 2026.