Originally posted by pingpong
View Post
You need to start by working out what outcome you want.
Do you want to settle on HMRC terms, pay what they want, perhaps over a time period and achieve at least some certainty?
Do you want to challenge HMRC's view in order to secure a lower settlement? If so, be aware that you cannot negotiate per se, and you have to have a sound legal argument (ignoring questions of fairness, bully boy tactics from HMRC, misleading statements from promoters) and then have to convince HMRC of its merits.
If you cannot, you will need to go to a Tribunal yourself or hire an advocate.
You can join something like Big Group which does the latter but with a large number of people.
There are no guarantees that a better technical argument will win. HMRC has shown a predilection for litigating even when they know they will lose. Why? Because they can and they're spending your money. HMRC prefers dogma to common sense, value for money, fairness and intelligence.
If you want to do anything other than settle, be prepared to put in perhaps hundreds of hours over a long period.
Some people I know have done this and done it well. They are not contractors and perhaps had considerably more skin in the game, and therefore perhaps more motivation, but nonetheless, they took it on and probably saved tens of thousands in fees.
In the world of contractor tax, be prepared to abandon logic and coherent HMRC policy when you study the position you are in. be prepared for HMRC throwing up barriers at every opportunity. Be prepared for obstinate and unreasoned refusals to engage. Prepare for a long haul.
So, it can and has been done by individuals.
Key questions:
What outcome do you want?
How much time and effort are you prepared to invest to get that?
How much is your time worth to you and how might that compare to having a professional get you to a decent outcome?
Only you can answer these questions.
Comment