Fraud and Financial Crimes
HMRC Investigations Defence Solicitors
Fraud investigations are only carried out by HM Revenue and Customs where they feel a strong message needs to be sent out as a deterrent method, or where conduct is so serious, only a criminal penalty is appropriate.
Facing an HMRC Investigation?
Fighting criminal charges is a process filled to the brim with emotions: stress, anxiety, fear, shame. Our team will always treat you with compassion and empathy, and ensure you feel heard and respected throughout criminal proceedings.We can tackle your case no matter where you are in the process.
You may not have been formally charged, you may have just been charged, or maybe you’re much further along and aren’t happy with your current solicitor. Our team is here to speak 24/7 so please get in touch so we can work on your next steps together.
What is HMRC?
HMRC is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the UK. Its primary responsibilities include ensuring funds are available for public services and transferring money to the Exchequer through collection, compliance, and enforcement. They also conduct tax investigations when there is suspicion of tax evasion, undeclared business activities, or accruing debt.
HMRC initiates criminal investigations for a variety of issues, including suspected involvement in organised tax fraud, conspiracy to commit tax fraud, using false documents to avoid taxes, and proven participation in tax avoidance schemes, among others.
Facing a criminal investigation by HMRC can be daunting due to the complexity of the processes involved, which often include multiple government departments and police bodies. Moreover, strict deadlines are typically part of an HMRC tax investigation, making expert guidance invaluable.
Understanding HMRC Investigations
Criminal investigations are a crucial part of HMRC’s enforcement strategy, often serving as a warning to other businesses and individuals. It’s essential to recognise that the HMRC can draw upon extensive powers during an investigation, including the authority to arrest individuals, search suspects and their premises, apply for search warrants for homes and businesses, and demand information through court orders. Additionally, HMRC can freeze bank accounts, seize assets, and, if necessary, apply for intrusive surveillance measures approved by the Home Secretary.
Being involved in an HMRC tax investigation can significantly disrupt your personal and business life, so seeking advice from an experienced solicitor is essential. Unfortunately, the HMRC may not always inform you if they are examining your taxes. However, if HMRC suspects criminal activity, you may receive a request to attend an interview. In such an event, you should certainly have a legal counsel present.
Your HMRC Defence Solicitor in the UK
As HMRC defence specialists, Holborn Adams understands the urgency and specific knowledge required to help clients avoid prosecution or financial sanctions. Fortunately, our expert team of solicitors are well prepared to deal with such cases, having successfully defended clients across numerous multi-million-pound tax fraud investigations.
Our wealth of experience allows us to defend you or your organisation in all situations, including minimising penalties where appropriate. As always, Holborn Adams will act on your behalf in order to attain the best possible outcome for your case, avoiding criminal prosecution.
Of course, criminal HMRC tax investigations require your full compliance to avoid further possible sanctions. Thanks to our unique approach, we can negotiate with HMRC and, where needed, our tax accountancy colleagues to divert cases from the criminal process and achieve an outcome that allows your business to continue running with minimal distraction.
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.
Trusted by clients
Top-rated legal defence and client care
Our clients feel supported, not just in their legal defence, but as individuals facing challenging times. We provide expert representation as well as the guidance, emotional support, and resources they need, which is why we consistently receive glowing reviews.
We’re here to help
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.
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.
We have hundreds of client testimonials listed on our website, in addition to reviews on independent review platforms TrustPilot, Google Reviews, and Review Solicitors.
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.
When you phone us, you’ll have an initial consultation 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.
Yes, your initial phone consultation is free of charge. After this, we will give you a free, no-obligation fixed fee quote for using our services.
Yes, when you call us, your call is 100% confidential.
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.
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 - and it is our ultimate goal with all cases that come to us pre-charge. We believe in a proactive approach, working with you to build a defence that encourages prosecutors and the CPS to drop the case with no further action. Please speak to us as soon as you become aware there are allegations against you. The earlier you reach out, the better.
To decide whether any firm is best to handle your case, you should be asking yourself some key questions:
- How are they funded? - We are a privately funded firm meaning we take on cases for a fixed fee, with no options for legal aid. Some firms are legal aid only or a mix of private defence and legal aid. For the highest level of attention and case preparation, you are best seeking a 100% private firm like us, as we are not stretched thin by a caseload of Government-funded cases.
- Expertise - Our solicitors have diverse experience defending every type of criminal offence. We are, however, specialists in pre-charge defence, fraud, sexual offences, and regulatory investigations, so if your case falls under these categories, we are confident we can secure the best outcome for you.
- Location - We have offices all over the world. We can travel to you and offer remote conferencing services to make things easiest for you.
- Reviews - Our client testimonials speak for themselves. You’ll see hundreds of glowing reviews on our website, as well as on independent review sites like Review Solicitors, Google Reviews, and TrustPilot.
