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Blick Rothenberg UK Tax Strategy

Blick Rothenberg – UK Tax Strategy

Blick Rothenberg provides business services to both UK and overseas owned entrepreneurial businesses and their owners and managers along with advisory and compliance services to private individuals. We provide accountancy, audit, advisory and business processing outsourcing operations from our operations in the UK.

Organisational structure

This tax strategy relates to the following subgroups:

  • Blick Rothenberg Limited; and
  • Blick Rothenberg Holdco Limited

There is no ultimate UK incorporated parent company of the Group as the parent entity is incorporated in Jersey, although it is tax resident in the UK. As there is no UK incorporated parent company, this strategy will be published by Blick Rothenberg Limited on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and its sister entity Blick Rothenberg Holdco Limited.

Our Values

Our values are important to our culture and our relationship with our people and our clients. These values are:

Collaborative

We are stronger together. We share knowledge, ask for help and empower each other to achieve more collectively

Authentic

We constantly ask ourselves what is the right thing to do for our people, our clients and our business, acting with integrity at all times

Respectful

We are open minded and value everyone’s contribution, embracing our differences and fostering a culture of trust and inclusion

Dynamic

We adapt quickly to change, finding smart ways to deliver the best results and remain one step ahead

Approach to tax risk management and governance

Blick Rothenberg has a strong sense of corporate and social responsibility, and this extends to complying with UK and International tax obligations and operating with strong corporate governance.

As a business advisory firm, our reputation is critically important to us and our clients and we are committed to complying not just with the letter, but with the spirit of the tax law when it comes to advising our clients as well as meeting our own tax obligations.

We are liable to account for a broad range of UK taxes including corporation tax, VAT, PAYE, National Insurance Contributions, Insurance Premium Tax, Business Rates, the Apprenticeship Levy and Stamp Duty Land Tax.

Blick Rothenberg is committed to compliance with UK tax law, regulation and disclosure requirements by:

  • Paying the right amount of UK tax at the right time,
  • Filing complete and accurate returns on a timely basis,
  • Seeking to utilise available tax reliefs and incentives where available in a manner which is consistent with the UK Government’s policy objectives,
  • Consulting with qualified staff members in their areas of expertise, such as VAT, employment and corporate taxes if an area of uncertainty arises, and
  • Seeking advice from external advisors to provide additional expertise where appropriate.

Partners are employees (and not self-employed partners). Contractors tax treatment is assessed on an individual basis to confirm their employment status.

Overall responsibility for the tax strategy rests with the Board of Directors. This strategy was approved by the Board and prepared by management in consultation with the Group’s tax advisors. The Board agrees to review the strategy annually to ensure it remains accurate and relevant.

Day to day management of each UK sub-group’s tax affairs is undertaken by the finance team. The finance teams work together with the qualified tax teams in the business to ensure compliance with UK law and regulation. External advisors are appointed as required.

To ensure that the finance teams are able to identify areas of tax risk or sensitivity, they are kept updated of changes in tax legislation by ongoing communication with the firm’s tax technical staff.
If deficiencies in tax reporting or compliance are identified by the finance team, these areas are discussed with senior in-house qualified tax professionals and escalated as appropriate to management and the Board, and the matter addressed without delay.

Attitude towards tax planning

When considering business planning opportunities for Blick Rothenberg or for our clients, our focus is on sound commercial principals and understanding the underlying economic objectives and substance.

All in-house tax staff follow the principles and standards of behaviour set out in the Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation (PCRT) published by the Chartered Institute of Taxation. The undergo annual training on ethics and various compliance matters including adherence with the Criminal Finances Act. More specifical technical training is provided on a personalised basis to all client facing teams to meet the requirements of the Insitute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales regardless of whether or not individual employees are members of the institute.

Transactions between companies within the Group are undertaken on an arm’s length basis and arm’s length transfer pricing is adopted. Appropriate documentation is in place which supports the transfer price used and is compliant with UK and OECD transfer pricing policies.
Blick Rothenberg has grown in part by acquisition, an appropriate level of tax due diligence is undertaken for each transaction, not just on the target’s compliance with their own tax obligations, but also the quality and robustness of advice provided to clients. Where any deficiencies are identified through the due diligence these transactions will either not proceed or proceed with remedial action being taken thereafter.

Level of tax risk accepted

Blick Rothenberg takes a responsible approach to managing its UK tax affairs and seeks to comply with all statutory obligations. The scale and complexity of the Group’s business and the volume of its tax obligations, means that inevitably risks will arise. Where risks are identified by the finance teams they are evaluated with assistance from in-house qualified staff or with external professional advisors and managed proactively.

If for a certain transaction there is considered to be a material level of uncertainty or complexity, the Group will seek external advice to help reduce risk.
Blick Rothenberg’s approach to tax risks follows the same principles that apply to other business risks and includes consideration of reputational and other non-financial risks.

Relationship with HMRC

Blick Rothenberg promote an open and collaborative relationship with HMRC in relation to our own and our client’s tax affairs.
Where possible, we engage proactively with HMRC and is committed to principles of openness and transparency when dealing with HMRC. If the Group is unclear on how tax law should be applied, it may engage with HMRC in advance of undertaking transactions to confirm the correct application of tax law.
Where queries are raised by HMRC, we will respond promptly and provide full and accurate answers in the interest of resolving any queries swiftly without recourse to litigation.

Technical details

The publication of this tax strategy statement is regarded as satisfying the statutory obligation under Paragraph 19(2), Schedule 19 of the Finance Act 2016, for the UK companies and UK Permanent Establishments of the Blick Rothenberg group (referred to as “Blick Rothenberg”). This tax strategy applies to the financial year ending 30 June 2023 and describes the approach to the management of the Blick Rothenberg group UK tax affairs.

The strategy is also published by Blick Rothenberg Limited as the UK parent companies of the Blick Rothenberg groups.

Date of publication: March 2024