Tax Evasion and Avoidance Defence Solicitors
Facing an HMRC investigation into suspected tax evasion or avoidance? An accusation of this magnitude can have a lasting negative impact on your personal and professional life. At Holborn Adams, we specialise in pre-charge engagement, helping to get cases dropped early. With a strong track record of case wins, our goal is to get your case dropped before you are even charged. Call us now.

Facing HMRC tax evasion or avoidance allegations? Act now to minimise exposure.
Holborn Adams is one of the UK’s leading private criminal defence firms, with Legal 500-recognised directors and a track record in high-stakes tax investigations. We represent clients at every stage - from initial HMRC enquiries and Code of Practice 8 or 9 investigations, through to dawn raids, arrests, and prosecutions under the Criminal Finances Act 2017.
Our early-intervention strategy includes managing voluntary disclosures, scrutinising HMRC's claims, and collaborating with forensic accountants to challenge assumptions and protect your position. Whether you're accused of deliberately underreporting income or being involved in complex avoidance arrangements, early legal advice can make the difference between a civil penalty and a criminal charge.
We understand how reputational damage, financial consequences, and the threat of prosecution can affect individuals and businesses alike. If found guilty of tax evasion, you could face:
- Up to 7 years' imprisonment
- Unlimited fines
- Confiscation of assets
- Director disqualification
- Reputational damage and professional sanction
In corporate cases, businesses may also be prosecuted for failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion under the Criminal Finances Act 2017, carrying similar penalties.
We act discreetly and decisively, liaising directly with HMRC and other regulatory bodies to reduce the risk of escalation. We operate on a fixed-fee basis and do not offer legal aid - ensuring focused, premium representation from day one.
Here are some tax evasion and avoidance issues we defend:
- Criminal or civil HMRC investigations (COP8 and COP9)
- Undeclared income from self-employment, rentals, or offshore assets
- Complex tax avoidance schemes (e.g. trusts, film relief, offshore structures)
- PAYE or VAT irregularities flagged by HMRC
- Corporate liability under the Criminal Finances Act
- Failure to prevent tax evasion by staff or associates
- Raids, arrests, and interviews under caution
- Asset restraint or confiscation orders
- Director-level tax enquiries and investigations
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
Speak confidentially with one of our legal experts at no cost. We’ll assess your situation and offer clear advice on next steps, along with a transparent fee estimate.
Case review and approval
Behind the scenes, our legal team will evaluate your case in depth and prepare a fixed-fee proposal. Once approved, we begin acting on your behalf immediately.
Strategy development
We design a bespoke strategy - whether moving a case toward civil resolution or defending criminal allegations. When applicable, we instruct forensic accountants or specialist tax advisors.
Representation
From COP8/9 meetings and interviews under caution to voluntary disclosures and court representation, we handle all engagement with HMRC and other authorities.



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 tax evasion & avoidance solicitors can help you
HMRC tax investigations can escalate quickly, threatening your finances, freedom, and professional standing. Whether you're under suspicion of evasion, aggressive avoidance, or facilitation, we act fast to protect your position and minimise legal risk.

Apply for varied bail conditions
If HMRC has issued restraint orders or imposed strict financial conditions, we can apply to vary or discharge these.

Create a defence strategy
We scrutinise HMRC’s claims, identify flaws or assumptions, and craft a defence or advise on voluntary disclosure to minimise risk.

Reputation management
Tax investigations can impact your public or professional image. We provide discreet crisis management and media handling support.

Attend interviews
We accompany you to interviews under caution or compliance meetings, ensuring your rights are upheld and statements are protected.

Early resolution with police
If the matter is weak or procedural errors exist, we engage early with HMRC to obtain case closure before criminal escalation.

Persuade the CPS to drop charges
Should the matter proceed to criminal prosecution, we submit comprehensive representations to the CPS - aiming to resolve the matter without court proceedings.
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.
The police can track a phone by obtaining cell site data from network providers. This data, which is typically retained for a year by network providers, allows the police to conduct cell site analysis to determine the approximate location of your phone throughout the period of the data obtained.Cell site analysis works by identifying the mobile phone masts your device connected to at different times, helping to map out an estimated location. However, once this data is deleted by the network provider, it cannot be recovered. If the police want to obtain this information, they must request it within the retention period and require legal authorisation. It is important to note that this cell site analysis can provide an approximate location of a phone but cannot pinpoint an exact address or specific location. The accuracy depends on factors such as cell height, technology, network type, and surrounding terrain. A single cell tower can provide coverage ranging from half a kilometre to several kilometres, therefore cell site data can only show that a phone was within a general area, not at a precise location.
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.
Pre-charge engagement with the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) may be labelled as ‘voluntary,’ but for anyone under investigation, it is an essential and strategic tool for a robust defence. By engaging early, we aim to gain access to the evidence the police intend to rely on, allowing us to dismantle weak allegations, highlight crucial lines of inquiry that support your innocence, and build a powerful defence from the outset. Our primary goal is to have cases dropped and resolved before charges are ever brought, ensuring you never have to step foot in a courtroom. This proactive approach is vital in countering false allegations and addressing misunderstandings before they escalate. It also ensures full preparation, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to your defence. We act decisively, preparing compelling representations and a comprehensive defence bundle, which we present to the CPS at the earliest opportunity to secure a ‘No Further Action’ outcome.