BTG Tax Acquires Birmingham VAT Consultancy

BTG Tax, part of the Begbies Traynor Group, has acquired a Birmingham VAT consultancy for an undisclosed sum.

It has taken over the four-strong VATease business, based in Kings Heath, and has moved the team into its own headquarters in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The move follows the recent purchase of a specialist VAT consultancy in Bristol as it looks to expand its operations across Britain.

The Chesham Consultancy in Bristol added a fourth UK office to those in Birmingham, London and Manchester.

BTG Tax is currently looking to Scotland and the North-east for further opportunities.

VATease comprises Simone Hurst, now Director of VAT services at BTG Tax, VAT Manager Paul Taylor, and administrators Yvonne Fletcher and Eileen Keating.

Both Miss Hurst and Mr Taylor are former VAT inspectors and are able to offer expert opinion based on their understanding of the way HM Revenue & Customs works.

They will join the BTG Tax Midlands VAT practice comprising VAT specialists Tony Jackson and Amy Waterhouse.

BTG Tax approached VATease, attracted in particular by the consultancy’s helpline, a service it was not then offering.

The helpline is aimed at assisting professional practices, such as accountants, solicitors and businesses alike, through support of their existing knowledge of VAT.

The plan is now to develop the helpline service further by offering it to other accountants and including other tax services.

Simone Hurst, formerly with Ernst & Young, said VATease (founded by Colin Greenhall who has since retired) had received three approaches for the business, but chose BTG Tax because it offered a strong future while allowing the team to retain an element of independence.

She warned “HMRC is greatly increasing the number of VAT control visits so it is even more important for taxpayers to put their VAT affairs in order, particularly in light of the fact that you are less likely to get penalised if it can be shown that you have taken ‘reasonable care’. 

“Recent changes on sales invoice declarations, land and property ‘option to tax’ issues are all likely to catch out the unwary.”

BTG Tax is the former Shaws tax advisory firm which was acquired by Begbies Traynor Group earlier this year.

Andrew Shaw, National Tax Managing Partner, said: “This acquisition is another example of how we are strengthening our existing centres while seeking to grow across the UK.

“The VATease helpline is an excellent initiative and we believe this will prove a significant asset which we are keen to progress.”

Mr Shaw emphasised that BTG Tax continued to seek further quality people to add to its 50-strong presence in Birmingham.

BTG Tax also has offices in Nicosia, Cyprus, and in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.