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Accountants & solicitors

Accountancy and law firms regularly meet client situations that call for specialist tax input beyond their core practice area, and the right moment to bring in an expert is often before a position is committed rather than after. For firms without an in-house tax department, we act as that department on demand, a dedicated referral partner providing reasoned written opinions and planning advice that your firm can rely upon and, where appropriate, share with your clients under your own engagement. No referral is too technical or too complex: whether the matter concerns a business disposal, a succession question, a corporation tax position or a contentious enquiry, we work to the standard your clients expect of you, and we obtain HMRC clearance wherever it is available so that the planning can be implemented with confidence. Our role is to strengthen your client relationships, never to compete with them. We do not cross-sell, and we are content to remain entirely behind the scenes where that suits your firm. Many practices use us as their outsourced specialist tax function, drawing on our expertise only when a particular matter demands it, which allows you to offer depth without carrying the cost of a full-time specialist. The result is a discreet, reliable extension of your own team that protects both your client and your professional reputation.

Key tax considerations.

Pre-sale CGT structuring
Business sale transactions requiring analysis of BADR, rollover relief and earn-out CGT treatment.
IHT and succession planning
BPR qualification, gifts with reservation and discounted gift trust planning for HNW clients.
Corporation tax advisory
R&D credit claims, corporate interest restriction and loss restriction analysis for complex groups.
SDLT on property transactions
Mixed-use, higher rates analysis; multiple dwellings relief and linked transaction rules.
Non-domicile and offshore
UK tax analysis for clients with offshore structures, trusts or bonds who have become UK-resident.

Why Alan Water.

When you refer a client matter to a specialist, you trust us with the relationship. We operate under your engagement letter where required and never cross-sell directly to your clients.