What to look for
Tax advisers handle complex personal and corporate tax planning, HMRC investigations and disclosures, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, residence and domicile, and trust taxation. The category overlaps with accountants for general work but adds specialist depth on the cases where headline tax exposure is large enough to justify dedicated advice.
- Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) full membership
- Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) membership for routine advisory
- Professional indemnity insurance with cover scaled to your liability
- HMRC AML supervision
- Specialist focus relevant to your situation (CGT, IHT, R&D, residence)
- Engagement letter scoped clearly with fixed or capped fees
Typical pricing: £250-£450 per hour, £900-£3,500 typical CGT planning, £2,500-£8,000 IHT estate planning (UK 2026)
Regulator / certification to look for: Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), HMRC AML supervision