MONDAY
It is not often that tax advisers hit the headlines but there has been a lot of controversy recently.
My job is to make sure our clients comply with corporate tax rules and structure their affairs efficiently.
To my mind there has always been a clear dividing line between tax avoidance and tax evasion. One of the main problems is the complexity of the tax system.
With complexity comes uncertainty, grey areas and different interpretations, which HMRC is seeking to address with the introduction of the General Anti-Abuse Rules.
This morning I'm on a communications course designed to help understand clients and to more effectively work with them to identify issues and opportunities.
In the afternoon I'm with a company that wants to simplify its group structure.
TUESDAY
After reviewing corporate tax returns, I call a number of clients about research and development tax.
Basically, if you are an SME and spend £100 on research and development, you're entitled to tax relief for £225.
This is how companies are able to manage their tax bill perfectly legitimately and how the Government continues to support innovation.
I leave work on time to run with Belper Harriers, getting in about eight miles. The tax team at Cooper Parry in Derby have challenged our counterparts in the Nottingham office to race us in the Derby 10k in April.
WEDNESDAY
After catching up with e-mails, I sit down with the tax team to discuss what we're going to produce for clients following the Budget.
We watch the speech and have a sweepstake on how long it will last. Being tax people, there is a technical disagreement over who's won.
The speech is the political side of things, what matters to us is the small print.
Within about 20 minutes of the Chancellor sitting down, the 192-page Budget document is posted on the Treasury website. It sets out the details and the fiscal impact – basically, how much it will cost to deliver any tax cuts.
We go through it for anything likely to affect our clients: VAT, corporation tax, stamp duty and personal tax. We piece together the bits relevant to our clients, put together a summary and put together an e-shot.
THURSDAY
I visit a client who needs advice on the potential sale of a business. In the afternoon, I ring around clients to talk about the implications of the Budget. In the evening I'm out running again with the club.
FRIDAY
Today, I'm advising a client on tax compliance and whether it is worth our putting one of our tax team into the business for a couple of weeks to better understand it.
I am also talking to a client about how to better structure their business for a potential future disposal.