Holsworthy Dairy Evening 2014

The annual Holsworthy Dairy Evening hosted by Kivells, now in it's 21st year, is well known in the area as not only a Show & Sale of good quality dairy cattle but also a social event.

Jonathan Gifford (Partner at Haines Watts North Devon) / Adrian Burrows (vendor) / Leonard and Jack Bartlett (Judges).

Jonathon Gifford partner at Haines Watts North Devon (part of the Haines Watts group, named as 'Accountancy Firm of the Year 2014') presented the award for 'Highest PLI In Show' to Adrian Burrows (vendor). The top call on the evening was £2,300 given for the Overall Champion and first place heifer of the show “Perrin’s Piano” a freshly calved homebred heifer sold on behalf of Messrs Hussell of Shebbear and purchased by the judge Len Bartlett of Honiton. The trade stands reported a busy night with a large attendance of dairy farmers from the Southwest and beyond.

See below Kivells full report on the evening: 

Follow HMRC Advice At Your Own Risk Says Jonathan Gifford Partner at Haines Watts North Devon LLP

A recent tax case involved a lady that sold some shares and tried to claim a capital gains tax rollover relief on the arising gain. The lady had, via her accountant, obtained confirmation from HMRC that the relief could be claimed. However, once her tax return was submitted, HMRC amended the return and removed the relief claimed.

Jonathan Gifford -Partner Haines Watts North Devon LLP

This case gives great cause for concern; surely a taxpayer can be entitled to rely on advice received from the tax authorities!? The importance of taxpayers selecting an experienced and qualified tax professional is highlighted clearly in this case – penalties and interest charged by HMRC for errors can be substantial, and HMRC do not always give the correct advice when contacted. Contact us today for a free Golden Hour with one of our partners.


Jonathan Gifford
Haines Watts North Devon LLP

Chartered Accountants Celebrate Their National Award Success In Style In Aid Of Local Charity

Haines Watts North Devon LLP based in Bideford, held a glittering event with fast cars and diamonds in aid of Children’s Hospice SW (CHSW).  It was hosted at the new state-of-the-art Roger Young Jaguar Land Rover showroom in Saltash the only of this design in the World with the two other dealerships based in Dubai and Los Angeles.  Spectacular staging and lighting was supplied by independent Warwick Corporate Events who kindly waived their fee and all costs asking that the monies be donated direct to the charity. 

Photograph by Alex Law of Roger Young Jaguar Land Rover, lighting courtesy of Warwick Corporate Events

More than 130 guest enjoyed canapés and a Cornish champagne reception, toasting Haines Watts winning the ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year – Small, Medium Size Entities (SMEs’)’ Award for 2014.  The Haines Watts Group was voted as the top firm nationally at the recent annual Financial Directors (FDs) Excellence Awards.  This award follows on the back of the Haines Watts group winning ‘Auditor of the Year’ in the SME category for two consecutive years.  

East-Devon based businessman Nick Agg-Manning of OAC Limited, acted as auctioneer at the high-profile event and auction prizes included a hot air balloon from Virgin and a helicopter ride for three people kindly donated by Richard Puchase of Yarnscombe.  This together with a charity raffle raised over £4,600 for CHSW.

Haines Watts North Devon and Roger Young Jaguar Land Rover were joined by independent South West jewellers, Michael Spiers showcasing their precious collection of fine diamond and gem jewellery and prestigious timepieces from major Swiss brands. 

John Edwards, Managing Partner Haines Watts North Devon LLP says: “I am absolutely delighted with how well attended this event was and raising so much money for a very worthy local cause.  I would like to take this opportunity of thanking local businesses who kindly donated charity prizes and Roger Young Jaguar Land Rover for acting as hosts.  The precious gems and new range of Tudor Rolex watches showcased by Michael Spiers all added to the glitter of the evening.  I was particularly impressed with the staging and lighting by David Warwick of Warwick Corporate Events who very kindly waived his fee and all costs asking that this be donated direct to the charity.”

Children’s Hospice South West have three hospices including ‘Little Harbour’ which opened its doors to its first families in December 2011 and is most conveniently situated for families who live in Cornwall, Plymouth and parts of South Devon.

The Cornish hospice is set in a spectacular coastal location overlooking St. Austell Bay with beautiful views out to sea. Designed and built with a view to celebrating Cornish building traditions and its close proximity to the sea, Little Harbour has the feel of a ‘holiday home’ in a relaxed seaside setting. 

 Alana Marie Smith, Director of Fundraising, CHSW adds:  “We were absolutely delighted to be the chosen charity of Haines Watts North Devon for this fantastic celebratory event, as we  rely almost entirely on voluntary donations to run our three hospices. It’s the generous support given by local communities and corporations that allows us to give the respite, emergency and bereavement care that is so appreciated by each and every family we support.  Haines Watts kindly also raised monies for us at this year’s Holsworthy & Stratton Showa and we can’t thank John Edwards and his wonderful team enough for all they do in supporting the charity, which helps us to make the time that the children have with their families so treasured.”

Anthony Ainslie (Director of Sales, Roger Young) /Adam Spiers (Director at Michael Spiers / John Edwards (Managing Partner of Haines Watts North Devon LLP) /  Alana Marie smith (Director of Fundraising at Children's Hospice South West) / Nick Agg-Manning ( Director of Outside Adventure Consultants Ltd.) / Naomi Dymond(Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser Children's Hospice South West) / Roger Young (Dealer Principal, Roger Young) / Darren Hardy (Service Manager, Roger Young)

www.hwca.com/acccountants-north-devon

Haines Watts celebrate their national award success in style with a glittering event in aid of CHSW @ Roger Young Jaguar Land Rover

Haines Watts North Devon LLP held a glittering event with fast cars and diamonds in aid of Children’s Hospice SW (CHSW).  Hosted by Roger Young Jaguar Land Rover, the event was held at their state-of-the-art Jaguar showroom in Saltash, one of only three of its design in the World. 

Anthony Ainslie (Director of Sales, Roger Young) /Adam Spiers (Director at Michael Spiers / John Edwards (Managing Partner of Haines Watts North Devon LLP) /  Alana Marie smith (Director of Fundraising at Children's Hospice South West) / Nick Agg-Manning ( Director of Outside Adventure Consultants Ltd.) / Naomi Dymond(Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser Children's Hospice South West) / Roger Young (Dealer Principal, Roger Young) / Darren Hardy (Service Manager, Roger Young)

They were joined by independent South West jewellers, Michael Spiers showcasing their precious collection of fine diamond and gem jewellery and prestigious timepieces from the major Swiss brands.  Spectacular staging and lighting was supplied by Warwick Corporate Events who kindly donated their fee to the charity. More than 130 guests toasted Haines Watts winning ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year 2014’ with Cornish Champagne.  Over £4,545 was raised for CHSW with fabulous auction prizes and charity raffle. 

Like us on Facebook, follow this link to the full album of social diary pictures and images of the night... 

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‘Ant and Dec’ Help Haines Watts Raise Funds For Children's Hopsice South West @ The Holsworthy Show

Award Winning Chartered Accountants Haines Watts North Devon LLP were once again the sponsors of the main ring at this year’s Holsworthy & Stratton Show.   Haines Watts announced as ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year 2014 - Small, Medium Size Entities (SMEs’), at the annual Financial Directors (FDs) Excellence Awards, welcomed their clients and friends to the hospitality marquee to celebrate their success.  Guests enjoyed wine and light refreshments, including strawberries and cream. 

Haines Watts North Devon LLP client Leslie Rockett with his champion Ayrshire heifer in her breed won second best in show

 The Bideford-based business was joined by sister company Haines Watts Rural Business and the two firms jointly have over 350 farming clients across Devon and Cornwall.  The farming consultants at Haines Watts Rural Business LLP assist with decision making in response to an ever-changing agricultural market conditions, covering all aspects of Farm Business Management.

The star attraction for Holsworthy Show visitors was meeting ‘Ant & Dec’ at the Haines Watts stand… Not, however, the famous and popular TV duo, but two pygmy goats owned by Haines Watts Managing Partner John Edwards.  

Show visitors were encouraged to enter a fun competition to guess the goats’ girth’ for the chance to win great prizes and raised £306 for Haines Watts designated charity. The winner of the raffle and the gigantic teddy bear ‘Huggy’ was Graham Yeo of Belladown Farm in Newton Tracey.

 John Edwards - Managing Partner of Haines Watts North Devon LLP says:  “I am delighted to welcome so many clients and friends to join us in celebrating winning our fantastic award. Winning Accountancy Firm of The Year means so much to everyone within Haines Watts because it is voted for by clients. It has also been great fun having Ant and Dec here at the show, helping to raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West. I am also thrilled that the triumphant Harpers Home Mix Ltd. tug of war team have also today, decided to donate their £250 prize to the Hospice.”

 Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) Little Bridge House based in Fremington. Children’s Hospice South West, help and support children with life-limiting conditions; children that are not expected to survive into adulthood. Our three hospices, Little Bridge House in North Devon, Charlton Farm near Bristol and Little Harbour in west Cornwall, provide respite care and support for those children and their families, who have to cope with the most difficult of situations. Of these families, some seek palliative care, some for emergency care and many for planned respite and a rare opportunity for a break. Others will also be supported through the bereavement team after the loss of their child. They provide a loving and caring place for every member of every family who stays with them; a sanctuary for mums and dads, brothers and sisters. A place where everyone can begin to forget their worries for a while, be a family again and find expert help and support in facing an uncertain future.

Naomi Dymond - Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser (Little Bridge House) says: “We are absolutely thrilled to have the support of Haines Watts North Devon and cannot thank them enough for all their fundraising at this year’s Holsworthy Show. It is the second year running that they have supported us, and it means so much to us all. We rely almost entirely on voluntary donations to keep our hospices running, and it costs just over £3million a year to run Little Bridge House alone. The support of companies like Haines Watts makes it possible for us to continue to be there for life-limited children and their families, when they need us most. Thank you.”


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Exams Prove Not Taxing For Local Chartered Accountant

 A partner with a Bideford-based Chartered Accountancy firm, has passed all of the Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) taxation examinations with flying colours, on the first attempt.  Jonathan Gifford, partner with Haines Watts North Devon LLP, is the only professional in North Devon to have achieved this success in the last five years.

Jonathan Gifford

As a result of his examination success, Jonathan is now a fully qualified Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Tax (CIOT).  Membership of the CIOT is by examination and it is recognised as the gold standard of UK taxation education. Members are subject to the Institute's professional standards and are supported by the organisation’s London head office and worldwide network of 40 branches.

Jonathan (31) joined Sully & Co (Bideford) in 2005 and four years’ later qualified as a Chartered Accountant.  The firm became part of the Haines Watts Group in 2011 and Jonathan was promoted to partner the following year.    He has a specialist knowledge of owner-managed businesses including in the agricultural sector. He relishes protecting clients from HM Revenue & Customs enquiries or investigations and has extensive experience of tax effective business incorporation.

Jonathan Gifford, Partner Haines Watts North Devon says: “The area of taxation is becoming more complex and HM Revenue & Customs are having to be increasingly forceful having been given more power than ever to collect taxes. Many are put off sitting the Chartered Tax Adviser exams due to their rigorous nature and therefore, I am delighted to have passed my examinations on my first attempt.  There are very few qualified Chartered Tax Advisers in Practice and the in-depth knowledge I have gained complements the qualifications and experience I already have.  The CTA qualification helps give clients peace of mind that their adviser is both able to help them comply with the rules, whilst importantly, helping them arrange their personal or business affairs to minimise their tax burden.”

John Edwards, Managing Partner Haines Watts North Devon says: “I am absolutely delighted with Jon’s newly acquired qualifications which were well-deserved as CTA tax examinations are particularly difficult and challenging.  He worked extremely hard and this great result has added to a very successful 2014 for the firm.  In addition to Jon becoming a fully-qualified Tax Advisor, Haines Watts was voted ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year – Small, Medium Size Entities (SMEs’), at the annual Financial Directors (FDs) Excellence Awards.  The award was recently announced on the back of the Haines Watts group winning ‘Auditor of the Year’ in the SME category for two consecutive years.  These exciting developments clearly demonstrate that our smart thinking and broad range of accountancy services is valued and respected by our clients across the region.”

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Haines Watts Rural Business' Summer Bulletin

  Haines Watts Rural Business

Summer Bulletin

Are you eligible for Basic Payment Scheme? On the 1st January 2015, Single Farm Payment will be replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). Under BPS you will have to be eligible to claim, and greening requirements will make up 30% of your BPS payment.

To be eligible for BPS you will need to:
1. be an active farmer
2. have at least 5 hectares of eligible BPS land
3. have at least 5 BPS entitlements

Greening: Crop Diversification (also known as the three crop rule), is mandatory under the BPS greening rules, which may require farmers to grow a minimum number of different crops on their arable land. There are five exemptions to the rule. This includes land which is certified organic; farmers who have less than 10ha of arable land and where more than 75% of the arable land is temporary grassland, fallow or a combination of these uses, and the remainder of the arable land is 30ha or less. Farmers who are not eligible for an exemption will be subject to crop diversification. Where farmers have between 10-30ha of arable land, they will have to grow at least two different crops with the largest crop not covering more than 75% of the arable land. Farmers with over 30ha of arable land will have to grow at least three different crops, where the largest crop shall not cover more than 75% of that arable land. In addition the two largest crops together cannot cover more than 95% of that arable land.

Ecological Focus Areas (EFA). EFA’s are a requirement under Greening. Farmers with over 15ha of arable land (which is not exempt from greening) will be subject to the EFA rules. The requirement is that an area that is equivalent to 5% of the total arable land which is farmed by the applicant will be designated as an EFA.
To reach the EFA requirements cover/catch crops, nitrogen fixing crops, fallow, buffer strips and hedgerows can be used. It is important to note that it is expected that there will be a delay in BPS payments for farmers who select to use hedgerows as an EFA due to mapping. It is essential that farmers take all “greening” information into account when planning their autumn planting.

SPS 2014 – Don’t forget the SPS and Cross Compliance Rules! The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) are still undertaking inspections throughout 2014, so now that your 2014 Single Farm Payment Forms (SPS) have been submitted it is important to remember to stay within the SPS and Cross Compliance rules. It is imperative that you complete and update your 2014 Soil Protection Review continuation sheet and be prepared to present it if you are selected for an inspection.

Ladies in Dairy: Haines Watts Rural Business held a joint meeting with DairyCo on 8th July 2014 at St Giles on the Heath Village Hall, with over 35 ladies attending. There was a presentation on calf rearing, followed by a discussion on future topics which will include bookkeeping, record keeping, a first aid course and the best wellies to wear on the farm! Meetings will be held on a quarterly basis, either on farms or in village halls. For more information or to attend a “Ladies in dairy meeting” contact Lucy Thomas.

Holsworthy Show – Thursday 28th August 2014:

Haines Watts Rural Business and Haines Watts North Devon LLP are once again sponsoring the main ring at Holsworthy Show. We look forward to welcoming you to our hospitality marquee for refreshments on Stand 156. Once again we are raising funds for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) a worthy local cause and have great charity raffle prizes.

Rearing dairy heifers to calve at 24 months

Heifer rearing is often one of the largest costs to the modern dairy farms; it’s a significant drain on resources and land/ building use.

Rearing dairy heifers to calve at 24 months is the most economical way of rearing heifers, and optimises lifetime performance and fertility.

With heifer weight and height (at withers) determining when heifers are ready to bull, this is one of the most difficult mind-sets to overcome. However it is the weight that determines a heifer’s puberty and oestrus cycling not her age.

It is important to reach growth targets; Holstein heifers are ready to bull when they are 420 kg in

weight and 129 cm to withers; usually around 15 months old. Friesian’s at the same age are expected to reach 350 kg and 122 cm to withers. Despite these targets if a heifer reaches height and weight earlier than 15 months old, then there is no reason not to put her to the bull. It is the height and weight that determines if she is ready to be bulled, not age. (There is a full height and weight table available from HWRB for ages from 2 months to 24 months which helps to record and see if targets are going to be hit). It is important post service that growth and height targets are monitored as weight gain can be excessive if incorrect amounts of concentrate are fed. Monitoring the weights and heights reduces the risk of fertility being compromised in future servings.

An easy way to measure your dairy heifers can be anything as simple as a mark on a wall or a mark on a gateway in a field, thereby enabling easy and quick selection of suitable stock to bull. A weight band can also be used for measuring weights. It is very useful to keep a record of these weights to record progress and growth.

Calving at 24 months is possible on both a grass and straw /concentrates based systems. When using a grass based system it is critical that the heifers are fed with good quality grass with weight and growth rates being recorded on a regular basis. Supplementary feeding may be required to reach targets. When out wintering heifers it is critical to ensure shelter is available (i.e. large hedgerows) and where possible it is important that heifers which are struggling to reach targets are provided with housing. This will provide warmth and good shelter reducing energy to keep warm and enabling more energy to be utilised for growth. Out wintering heifers can be hard work on the heifers and to calve at 24 months it is essential that growth targets are reached.

When feeding heifers on a straw/concentrate system it is important to provide good protein levels to provide the energy which is required to reach growth rates and target weights. It is important to make sure that the heifers do not get over fat. Body condition scoring is essential to ensure that heifers are going to bull at the correct height, weight and body condition.

 For more information on calving at 24 months please contact Mike or Lucy

Mike Feneley - Partner - mfeneley@hwca.com - 07974 707 317                                                                                                                 

                     Lucy Thomas - Consultant -  lthomas@hwca.com - 07711 002786                                                              

                                                                                                                                              

www.hwca.com/agricultural_consultants
Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy neither Haines Watts Rural Business nor the author can accept liability for errors and omissions

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR LOCAL PROFESSIONAL

A local Account Senior with Haines Watts North Devon LLP tumbled 15,000 feet in a sky-dive tandem to raise much needed funds for North Devon Hospice.   Katherine Broad who works for Chartered Accountants Haines Watts North Devon LLP based in Bideford, jumped in memory of her Grandmother, Gwen Dymond, who sadly passed away in January after battling cancer for many years.  Haines Watts supported Katherine by contributing towards the cost of jump.

Katherine Broad - Haines Watts North Devon LLP and her cousin Tori Kiff 

Katherine’s cousin Tori Kiff also did a sky-dive on the same day and together they raised just under £1,000 in memory of their much-loved Gran.

Katherine Broad, Account Senior - Haines Watts North Devon says: “The North Devon Hospice was most supportive, not only to my Grandmother but also our family during such a difficult time. My cousin, Tori and I decided we wanted to do something to raise money for the hospice and the sky-dive was something my Gran would have thought was a great idea.  I am so grateful also to Haines Watts for contributing monies towards the jump so that I could raise more funds in sponsorship.”

Stephen Roberts, Chief Executive of North Devon Hospice, praised both Katherine’s and Tori’s bravery and amazing fundraising abilities saying, “We are so grateful for what Katherine and Tori have done. Leaping from a plane at 15,000 ft.  Because Katherine and Tori’s Grandmother was cared for by us, they will have seen first-hand the difference that North Devon Hospice makes to local people every single day.  £1,000 helps us provide our free care and support to those affected by cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. This amount would help fund our new Hospice to Home service which provides care and support in patients’ own homes around the clock when symptoms become more severe. This allows more people to remain at home and can avoid an unnecessary and distressing admission to hospital. We can’t thank Katherine, Tori and Haines Watts North Devon enough for supporting North Devon Hospice in this way.” 

www.hwca.com/accountants-north-devon

@HW_North_Devon 

www.northdevonhospice.org.uk

@NDevonHospice 

Matthew Melksham - Associate Partner at Haines Watts North Devon

Matthew has been an accountant for over 12 years and during this period has been involved with a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from the local plumber to truly international businesses. He joined Haines Watts Bideford office as a senior manager in December 2012 to look after the corporate clients in the firm and on 1st May 2013 was promoted to partner.

With a background in the catering and hospitality trade, including working in a Michelin-star restaurant and running a public house in his home City of Bath, Matthew has hands-on experience in running commercial operations. As a result he offers a personal service and customer focused approach providing accounting, tax and business advice to incorporated and non-incorporated business entities, owner managers and sole traders.

Matthew develops trust and confidence with his clients giving structured, pragmatic and timely advice to help them grow their company and excels in covering the areas of the business which are normally the responsibility of a Financial Director. This allows owners or managers the time to concentrate on the other aspects of the business with the knowledge that they do not need to pay a Financial Directors annual salary.

Using the specialist resources available from experts within the Haines Watts Group, he looks to grow the net worth of the owner managers he works with to ensure that all is done to the highest standard with a hands-on personal approach and at affordable local prices.

Local Chartered Accountants celebrate ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year’ award

The partners of Haines Watts North Devon LLP celebrate national success as ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year – Small, Medium Size Entities (SMEs’), at the annual Financial Directors (FDs) Excellence Awards.  This award follows on the back of the Haines Watts group winning ‘Auditor of the Year’ in the SME category for two consecutive years.  

Haines Watts Partners John Edwards - North Devon and Ben de Cruz - Exeter 

John Edwards, Managing Partner Haines Watts North Devon says: “It is great to see Haines Watts win such a prestigious award, particularly as it is voted for by business people and not by an academic panel of experts.  It’s also fantastic that Haines Watts is the first firm ever to have won an award in three consecutive years and I am delighted that it has been crowned Accountancy Firm of the Year for SME’s. On a local level it recognises that we are able to offer our clients award-winning accountancy services as part of this well-respected brand.”

The FDs' Excellence Awards are the most prestigious programme recognising the UK's top finance directors and their service providers that support Britain's finance community using the results of an annual survey, in which FDs and financial decision-makers recorded their opinion.  

The glittering awards ceremony held in Grosvenor Square, London was hosted by Real Business in association with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) with Haines Watts beating off stiff competition locally, regionally and across the UK as a whole.

John Edwards adds: “Our core client base is owner-managed businesses, so to get this endorsement from SME businesses means a great deal to us.  We are proud of all our staff at the Bideford office who do an outstanding job for our clients on a daily basis.  Their continued contribution and commitment to giving outstanding service has helped us to win a national award for the third year running which is an amazing achievement.”

www.hwca.com/acccountants-north-devon

Award-winning Chartered Accountants pocket a victory

Bideford-based Haines Watts North Devon LLP sponsors the Bideford and District Snooker League.  Haines Watts recently celebrated national success being named as ‘Accountancy Firm of the Year – Small, Medium Size Entities (SMEs’) at the annual Financial Directors (FDs) Excellence Awards.  It is a double celebration as the Haines Watts ‘Hustlers’ team from the 2013/14 season won the first division title. 

Jason Walker / Andy Hicks / Jonathan Gifford – Partner, Haines Watts North Devon / Jamie Thompson – Haines Watts North Devon 

Haines Watts Partner Jonathan Gifford together with work colleague Jamie Thompson and fellow ‘Hustlers’ team members have been playing together for 5 years.  In two out of the last three years they have won the 1^st division.

Trophy presenter and former professional Andy Hicks, made a tournament 147 maximum break in 2012 and is a former world championship semi-finalist.  On the night he played some exhibition frames against both winners and sponsors.

Jonathan Gifford of Haines Watts made a sponsors speech at the end of the presentation which included a mention of the late Kenny Walters a long-standing league and committee member who sadly passed away shortly before the presentation evening.

Jonathan Gifford, Partner Haines Watts North Devon LLP says: “The team spirit and enthusiasm of the ‘Hustlers’ helped us to victory and it’s great news for Haines Watts to win two very different types of awards in quick succession.  It was a very enjoyable evening for all and a fitting tribute to Kenny Walters who is sorely missed.”

www.hwca.com/accountants-north-devon/

Farmer's Tax Win

HM Revenue and Customs has a longstanding policy of not reopening settled cases, even when subsequent decisions change the case law. So it was a significant victory for Doug Robshaw, tax manager at Haines Watts in Hereford, and his client when they persuaded HMRC to review a claim for Agricultural Property Relief (APR) on a farmhouse and secure a rebate.

The decision to appeal was promoted by the 2013 Tax Tribunal case (HMRC v Hanson) which successfully challenged HMRC’s view that APR could not be granted on farm houses where the surrounding land was not in common ownership.

The farmhouse was occupied by the deceased’s son, who farmed the land, but the ownership of the land had been split between family members.  The tribunal found the occupation of the land was also relevant in assessing eligibility and APR was therefore granted on the farmhouse.  The situation where farmland is not in common ownership with the farmhouse is not usual, but HMRC’s willingness to review settled cases is.

Although the client’s circumstances were similar to Hanson – he owned and farmed the land but prior to her death his mother owned and occupied the farmhouse – there was no guarantee that HMRC would reopen the case which dated back to 2009.

However Doug, having previously worked for HMRC for 12 years, had a good understanding of how the system works and the best approach. “Having submitted the necessary paperwork, I engaged with the tax inspector who originally handled the case and there was a continued dialogue throughout the whole process. This was I was able to move the case along and provide supporting evidence.”

“I think I was also assisted by a general tide of good will towards a farming community facing adversities after the recent floods.”

Both Doug and his client were delighted when HMRC agreed to refund the Inheritance Tax paid on the farmhouse, which amounted to £120,000 along with £9,500 of accrued interest.

Doug feels the decision opens the doors for others to claim APR retrospectively.  But he added: “Each case needs to be assessed on its own merit. Potential claimants need to ensure they get expert advice on whether to proceed or risk incurring professional fees.” 

For  farm tax or agricultural advice contact Haines Watts North Devon and Haines Watts Rural Business LLP 

www.hwca.com/accountants-north-devon

01237 471736

northdevon@hwca.com

Local Chartered Accountants Expand Corporate Team

L – R

John Edwards and Louisa Roberts

Haines Watts North Devon

Bideford-based chartered accountants Haines Watts North Devon LLP announces the new appointment of 29 year old Louisa Roberts as Senior Commercial Manager.

Experts in analysing commercial challenges and opportunities, Haines Watts North Devon offers practical solutions in accounting, tax planning, retirement and succession servicing an extensive portfolio of over 500 owner managed businesses including corporate, professionals, small businesses and sole traders across the South West. 

Born and bred in North Devon, Louisa was a former student of West Buckland School.  After a University education she joined her parents in their thriving electronics business based in Bideford giving her real life experience of how a family business operates. Louisa then went to work for a local accountancy firm and became a Chartered Accountant in 2011.   

Louisa joins former colleague Matthew Melksham to strengthen the growing corporate team.  She comments:  “I am looking forward to taking on this new role and working with Matt again as well as the other partners.  Haines Watts has a client-centred approach which means that we can take the time to really understand the client’s needs. My role is to look after owner managed businesses of any size and my experience has given me a good grounding in what is important to business-owners.  With a strong audit background I believe as a team we can really add value to the larger corporate businesses in North Devon”.

Matthew Melksham – Partner Haines Watts North Devon LLP says:  “It is great to work with Louisa again as she brings her enthusiasm and vast experience in the sector. Louisa will fit very well into our team as she understands that as a practice we are here to help our clients prosper and grow”.  

www.hwca.com/acccountants-north-devon