HMRC Investigation Defence Solicitors
Being investigated by HMRC can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t understand the scope of the enquiry or the consequences involved. At Holborn Adams, we specialise in early legal intervention and pre-charge engagement to help prevent matters escalating into criminal proceedings. Whether you’ve been approached by HMRC directly or received a Code of Practice 8 or 9 letter, contact us today for immediate legal support and clear advice on what to do next.

Facing an HMRC investigation? Take early action to protect your position.
Holborn Adams is one of the UK’s top-ranked criminal defence firms, trusted by professionals, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals to deal with serious HMRC enquiries discreetly and effectively. Our Legal 500-recognised directors lead a team with deep experience in defending tax-related investigations - from undeclared income and offshore accounts to complex VAT and PAYE irregularities.
We act for clients at all stages of the HMRC investigation process, including dawn raids, interviews under caution, voluntary disclosures, and negotiations with tax inspectors. We understand how stressful and reputation-damaging these situations can be which is why we act quickly, carefully, and with absolute discretion.
Our team works closely with forensic accountants and tax specialists to uncover flaws in HMRC’s assumptions and prepare a strong defence. We can also assist with challenging related actions such as account freezing orders or seizure of business records.
Holborn Adams does not offer legal aid. We operate on a fixed-fee basis, ensuring full transparency and premium service from the outset.
HMRC investigations can lead to criminal prosecution, unlimited fines, and up to 7 years in prison depending on the nature of the offence. Acting early can prevent charges or reduce the risk of a more serious outcome.
Here are just some of the HMRC investigation issues we can defend:
- Tax fraud and evasion
- COP8 and COP9 investigations
- VAT and PAYE irregularities
- Use of offshore accounts
- False or incomplete tax returns
- Undeclared income or assets
- Criminal Finances Act breaches
Nationwide Support
We take on clients across the UK
We have offices spread all across the UK (and even beyond!). We can represent you no matter where you are in the UK.
What we can offer
Extensive experience from successful cases.
Optional visits to your home to discuss case details.
Remote communications to save you travel time.
Ability to work to tight timescales to match the pace of the case.
Transparent pricing with fixed fees*

Our process
Our success-driven legal plan
We offer legal support from day one. Here is the process you’ll go through as a Holborn Adams client.
Enquiry call with a legal expert
Contact us for a confidential conversation. We’ll listen to your situation, explain what HMRC’s approach might mean for you, and outline next steps - including a no-obligation fee estimate.
Case review and approval
We conduct a fast but thorough review of your case and send you a fixed-fee proposal. Once approved, we start acting on your behalf immediately.
Strategy development
We build a clear defence strategy tailored to the type of investigation (COP8, COP9, criminal tax fraud, etc.). Where needed, we bring in trusted tax specialists or forensic accountants.
Representation
We liaise with HMRC directly so you don’t have to. From interviews under caution to negotiating voluntary disclosures, we support and represent you at every step.



Respected and trusted
As proud members of the UK’s largest legal sector governing bodies, we are a team you can put your full trust in. We adhere to strict industry regulations, so you can be confident your case is in safe hands.
Our legal services
How our HMRC investigation lawyers can help you
Every HMRC case is different. Whether it’s a full-scale tax fraud investigation or a minor compliance query with serious consequences, our team is equipped to help.

Apply for varied bail conditions
If HMRC has obtained restraint orders or you’re on bail with strict terms, we can apply to vary these to reduce disruption to your personal or professional life.

Create a defence strategy
We examine HMRC’s claims, identify weaknesses in their assumptions, and prepare a bespoke defence. We’ll also advise on whether to disclose under COP9 or take an alternative route.

Reputation management
A tax investigation can have serious reputational fallout. We offer discreet crisis support to help you preserve your public image and career throughout the process.

Attend interviews
We attend interviews under caution and voluntary interviews to protect your rights and ensure you do not inadvertently damage your defence.

Early resolution with police
If you’re asked to attend an interview under caution, we attend with you. We’ll ensure you fully understand your rights and help avoid self-incrimination or missteps.

Persuade the CPS to drop charges
Should your matter be referred for prosecution, we’ll submit strong legal representations to the CPS aiming to resolve the issue before court proceedings begin.
Independent reviews
Explore our Trustpilot reviews to see what our customers have to say about their experiences with us!
Our Fees
Fixed fee defence
Our team will give you a free, no-obligation quote after your initial consultation. We offer a fixed fee service, free of any hidden extra costs. Our firm is exclusively privately-funded meaning we cannot accept any legal aid clients. Your fees secure you a top-tier team and top-tier treatment, covering
Dedicated, experienced legal team.
Ability to get your case dropped before charges.
Representation at interviews and court hearings.
Requests to vary bail conditions where required.
Negotiating with police or prosecutors
Referrals to various support services.

Frequently asked questions
Here are some answers to our most commonly asked questions - for tailored support with your case, please call us now for a free initial consultation.
You can make an enquiry call for free, but we cannot provide free legal advice. As a 100% privately funded firm, we offer defence services exclusively to paying clients. During your enquiry call, we’ll learn about your case, confirm whether we can help, and give you a rough estimate of costs. Your case details will then be shared with our team to develop an initial strategy and prepare a formal, no-obligation fixed-fee quote. If you choose to proceed, this fee will cover your full defence.
No - we are a 100% privately funded firm, meaning we charge a fixed fee for our services. We do not take on legal aid cases. We find that focusing on private cases only allows us to dedicate more time and resources to defending our clients to a much higher degree than firms who are stretched thin by intense legal aid caseloads.
Yes - we are proudly accredited by the two largest governing legal bodies in the UK, the Law Society and Legal 500. We are also regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Every case is different. After your initial consultation, we’ll determine which services are best for your defence, and calculate a fixed fee quote for you. The price depends on the complexity of the case, how long it will take, which team members are best for the case, and whether we need to instruct specialists. We do not charge by the hour - only a fixed fee for your whole defence.
We have a member of our legal team available to speak 24/7, 365 days a year. Whenever you need to speak to someone, you will be connected instantly. All calls are 100% confidential.
Yes, when you call us, your call is 100% confidential.
When you phone us, you’ll speak with a member of our legal team on a completely confidential basis. They will listen to your case and may ask additional questions to get as much detail as possible so the team can decide whether they are the best fit for you. We cannot give exact costs, a timeline, or suggestions on how to proceed in this initial call. After this, they will give your case details to the rest of the team and someone will be in touch with you with a no-obligation fixed fee quote for representation, and some ideas for next steps (such as pre-charge engagement, police interview representation, and similar). It is then up to you whether you’d like to accept the quote and proceed to formally instruct Holborn Adams.