Areas of practice

Tax investigations

Investigations and audits by Inland Revenue can be stressful and time consuming. Having Sam navigate you through the process can not only help alleviate the strain, but can also reduce the risk of substantial penalties being imposed. Missteps during an investigation or audit can be costly. Sam can assist you in all your interactions with Inland Revenue’s investigator, including at interviews and when responding to information requests, to ensure that missteps are not made.

Tax prosecutions

Tax offences, including allegations of tax fraud, are serious and the consequences of conviction can be grave. Charges can sometimes come as a surprise, with no warning given by Inland Revenue before a Court summons arrives. Sam can take some uncertainty out of the process by helping you understand what options may be available to you and outline the potential outcomes of criminal tax prosecution proceedings so that you can make the choices that are best for you. He will work with you to ensure that any available defences are pursued, and where applicable, mitigation of sentence is effective.

Tax disputes

The statutory tax disputes process is complex. It is replete with sudden-death time limits and strict procedural requirements. Taxpayer burnout is common. With Sam alongside you in the process, he can canvas tactics with you, and ensure that the best technical and evidential arguments are made in an effort to resolving the matter before it reaches Court. If it is necessary, he is also well-placed to put a persuasive case in substantive tax litigation before a Court.

Tax debt

Inland Revenue employs an array of tools to recover unpaid tax from taxpayers. A statutory demand is often the first sign of trouble, followed by threats or commencement of bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings to pressure taxpayers for payment. However, with the right approach and information, it is very often possible to negotiate a compromise which might involve an element of write-off. Sam can guide you to a realistic settlement and remove the threat of insolvency.

Tax advice

Tax law is complex and ever changing. With a deep knowledge of tax law and Inland Revenue practice, Sam can help you understand your tax obligations by providing specialist independent advice. For proposed transactions, Sam can help you access Inland Revenue’s Rulings regime which can provide additional certainty. Tax advice provided by Sam has the added advantage of remaining completely confidential from Inland Revenue as legal professional privilege would protect all communications passing between you and him.