Principal Terms of Business re provision of Tax Advice

Principal Terms of Business relating to the provision of Tax Advice: issued by RB Taxation Services

We set out below certain principal terms of business relevant to the provision of tax advice to clients.  These terms may be varied by any letter of engagement agreed with a client and, in the event of any conflict, the terms set out in the letter of engagement shall prevail.

  1. Any advice that we give is based on the information presented to us and we recommend that you ask us to confirm in writing any advice on which you may wish to rely.  Advice provided to you is for your sole use and does not constitute advice to any third party to whom you may communicate it.
  2. Because tax rules change frequently, you must ask us to review any advice given already if a transaction is delayed, or if an apparently similar transaction is to be undertaken.
  3. Investment business is regulated under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.  We are not authorised or licensed under that Act.
  4. We shall not be responsible for the provision of any tax compliance services, unless covered by a separate engagement letter, and you will remain responsible for the preparation and submission of your tax returns and any supporting schedules.  Similarly, you will deal with all communications relating to your tax returns received from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).  Of course, you may ask us to advise you but we may need to agree whether any further work will be the subject of a separate assignment.
  5. Although you have not asked us to act as your agent in relation to the submission of information or tax returns to HMRC, we should advise you that, in all dealings with HMRC, it is essential that all relevant details in respect of income, outgoings and capital transactions are disclosed.
  6. We aim to provide a high quality of service at all times.  If you would like to discuss with us how our service could be improved or if you are dissatisfied with the service that you are receiving, please contact the principal, Robert B Barlow.
  7. Our charges may depend not only on the time spent on your affairs but also on the levels of responsibility and skill involved, any disbursements incurred in connection with the engagement and the importance and value of the advice provided.  If we provide an estimate of fees for specific work, then the estimate will not be contractually binding unless we state explicitly that this will be the case.  Our fees are exclusive of value added tax (VAT) which will be added, if applicable, at the current rate.
  8. Our invoices are payable on presentation and we reserve the right to charge interest at 4% per annum over base rate in the case of overdue accounts.  However, it is not our intention to use these arrangements in a way which is unfair or unreasonable.
  9. Unless you instruct us otherwise, we may communicate with you and with third parties via E-mail or other electronic means.  As with other means of delivery, this carries with it the risk of inadvertent misdirection or non-delivery.  The recipient is responsible to carry out virus checks on any emails and any attachments received.
  10. As internet communications are capable of data corruption and because electronic communication is not totally secure, we do not accept any responsibility for changes made to such communications after their despatch.  For this reason, it may be inappropriate to rely on advice contained in an e-mail without obtaining written confirmation of it.  All risks connected with sending commercially-sensitive information or other confidential data relating to your tax affairs are borne by you and are not our responsibility.  If you do not accept this risk, you should notify us in writing that e-mail is not an acceptable means of communication.
  11. These terms of business are governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law.  The Courts of England will have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any claim, dispute or difference concerning these terms and any matter arising from them.  Each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to object to any action being brought in those courts, to claim that the action has been brought in an inappropriate forum, or to claim that those courts do not have jurisdiction.

RB Taxation Services

December 2021