Author: Muhammad Awais Bahadur

EIS relief, Enterprise Investment Scheme, HMRC tax appeals, qualifying trade, Upper Tribunal, First-tier Tax Tribunal, tax litigation, York SD Limited, Putney Power, EIS qualifying business activity, tax disputes solicitors, income tax relief withdrawal

York SD Ltd and Others v HMRC: What the Rooftop Solar EIS Appeal Means for Investors and Companies

The Upper Tribunal has granted partial permission to appeal in York SD Limited and Others v HMRC, a case examining whether a single rooftop solar panel installation could satisfy the EIS “qualifying business activity” requirement before six companies scaled up into much larger overseas solar projects. We break down the tribunal’s reasoning, the high bar for challenging findings of fact, and what the decision, read alongside Putney Power v HMRC, means for companies and investors relying on EIS relief.

Drelle v Servis-Terminal: Foreign Judgments & Bankruptcy

Drelle v Servis-Terminal: Foreign Judgments & Bankruptcy

The Supreme Court has settled a question that has troubled cross-border insolvency practitioners for years: whether a creditor can petition for bankruptcy using a foreign judgment that has never been through English recognition proceedings. Drelle v Servis-Terminal LLC [2026] UKSC 29 confirms they can, reshaping the options available to creditors holding judgments from Russia, the US, China and other non-treaty jurisdictions, while leaving debtors’ substantive defences firmly intact. Here’s what changed, and what it means for you.

Primary keywords: VAT assessment, HMRC VAT assessment, best judgment assessment, taxable person, VAT registration error, wrong taxable person, VAT1 registration, limited company VAT, HMRC appeal, First-tier Tax Tribunal, VAT appeal solicitor, tax litigation, HMRC dispute, VAT registration dispute, section 73 VATA 1994, VAT Act 1994, HMRC best judgment, VAT registration correction, HMRC error, tax tribunal appeal, VAT assessment withdrawal, LEXLAW, tax disputes, HMRC solicitor London, specialist tax counsel, witness statement tax tribunal, preliminary issue tax tribunal, VAT case study, HMRC VAT investigation

Defeating HMRC’s £1m VAT Assessment

LEXLAW forced HMRC to withdraw a near £1m VAT best judgment assessment after we demonstrated it had been issued against the wrong taxable person. A historic VAT registration error by HMRC lay at the root of the dispute. Our legal investigation with specialist tax counsel secured HMRC’s total defeat before trial.

HMRC Sent Off in £584k Football Referees Tax Battle

In PGMOL v HMRC [2026] UKFTT 00654 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal determined that National Group football referees engaged by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd were not employees, allowing PGMOL’s appeals against Regulation 80 PAYE determinations and Class 1 NIC decisions worth over £583,000. Our specialist tax dispute solicitors and barristers analyse the multifactorial RMC Stage Three assessment, the significance for employment status disputes, and what this means for HMRC investigations into PAYE and National Insurance.

Ultimate Guide to HMRC Discovery Assessments: How to Challenge & Appeal (2026)

HMRC discovery assessments can arrive years after you filed, but many are successfully challenged. This guide explains the legal framework, grounds of appeal, and how to protect your position in 2026.

VAT De-Registration Appeals

VAT De-Registration Appeals: How to Challenge HMRC’s Decision to Cancel Your VAT Number

If HMRC has cancelled your VAT number, urgent action is required. This guide explains how to challenge an HMRC de-registration decision through the internal review process and the First-tier Tax Tribunal, and why early legal advice is critical.

Interest Rate Swap Mis-selling: Do You Still Have a Claim in 2026?

Interest Rate Swap Mis-selling: Do You Still Have a Claim in 2026?

Thousands of UK businesses were mis-sold complex interest rate hedging products (IRHPs) by major banks between 2001 and 2012. While the FCA’s formal review scheme has closed, significant routes to redress remain open in 2026, particularly for victims of hidden swaps, LIBOR manipulation, and professional negligence. This article explains who can still claim, why time is critical, and what a specialist solicitor can recover for you.

Expert VAT penalty defence guide by LEXLAW. Learn how UK tribunals assess “reasonable excuse,” when it applies, excluded grounds, case law insights, and how to maximise your chances of success against HMRC.

How to Appeal HMRC VAT Penalties: “Reasonable Excuse” Defence Guide 2025

Expert guide to VAT “reasonable excuse” defences. Learn how to successfully challenge HMRC penalties, surcharges & late filing penalties with proven legal strategies from specialist tax dispute solicitors.