Bell Davies/e-customs
Our beginnings
Bell Davies was formed in 1994 by Alun, Paul and John who had worked in Customs and Excise before working for various large accountancy firms. They felt that the duty consultancy market would welcome independent expertise and this certainly proved to be the case.
Expanded services
Bell Davies is now acknowledged to be the market leader in a number of specialist areas, for instance we represent the Food & Drink Federation (FDF) in the Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC). However our advice needed to expand beyond merely examining the accuracy of the customs declaration; important though that may be. Accordingly we now advise directly or indirectly on most aspects of international trade, e.g. current freight rates and/or best shipping practice.
Web-based systems
Yet one of the most important features of the new trading environment has been the opportunities arising from the growth of web-services and in particular how the web can be used as the means to declare goods to Customs and help provide a visible, and accountable, delivery chain from manufacture onwards. These new circumstances marked the incorporation of e-customs® into the Bell Davies Group in 1998. It was time, with regard to customs declarations, for the industry to move forward from the old "period-entry" approach which was simply unable to play a meaningful part in the audit trail. We felt a better outcome was available and e-customs® helps deliver that objective.
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Lenaghan Dey
Lenaghan Dey LLP professional trade and customs specialists have an extensive knowledge and understanding of international trade regulations and procedures and of the relevant duties and taxes - but that is not enough. Our specialists know how to apply their expertise to your commercial advantage; some of them have worked in industry and commerce as trade and customs specialists and therefore have an instinctive understanding of your needs in this area; others are lawyers or former officers of Customs who have worked extensively with importers and exporters.
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Our approach is essentially business orientated. We prefer not to wait for commercial policies to be determined or transactions to be arranged and only then try to deal with the customs implications. Instead, wherever possible, we work with you in advance to develop strategies which provide the optimum trade and customs treatment consistent with your other business objectives. Of course, things can go wrong: the best laid plans can change, unforeseen developments can occur and problems can arise. Then, our expertise is available to assist you to meet the customs implications of new situations a...
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Mike Hodge Associates
Mike Hodge is an independent customs consultant covering all aspects of importing and exporting. He has a wide variety of clients from small independent businesses to large multinational corporations.
Before setting up his own practice in 1993, he was the National Director of the Customs Practice at accountants Ernst & Young in London. While there he was responsible for leading many assignments on all customs matters, including a number on customs classification.
Recent assignments include the settlement of a number of disputes with Customs & Excise over the classification of imports, including various ceramic and toy goods, and other goods in the mechanical sector. Mike also carries out reviews of companies custom procedures to ensure maximum use is being made of duty reliefs etc.
One of Mike's specialist areas is challenging (on behalf of clients) back duty claims made by customs.
Mike is a past Chairman and Vice President of the British Importers Association, is a former chairman of the Customs Practitioners Group and is also Vice Chairman of the Customs & Excise Tax Committee of the United Kingdom Warehousing Association
Barbara Scott joined Mike Hodge Associates in September 1999 following 13 years employment as a consultant with both Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young. At Ernst & Young , Barbara predominately worked with US based multinationals advising on import procedures and obtaining duty savings in the UK and throughout Europe. Prior to consultancy, Barbara worked for a British car manufacturer where she dealt with import and export issues worldwide.
Barbara is the current Chair of the Customs Practitioners Group and her client’s now range from small independent importers to global companies. Her business knowledge extends from manufacturers to retailers, including new e-businesses trading across the internet. Recent assignments include the classification of goods for a new importer of children’s clothing, setting up duty relief processes for a supplier to the motor industry and a review of the import business of a major high street retailer.
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TARA Trade & Regulatory Advisors
TARA is a consultancy specialising in Trade and Customs issues
It was set up by Alex McLoughlin who is a graduate in Politics, Economics and Statistics and has a post-graduate diploma in Computing and Business Studies. After nearly twenty years dealing with Trade issues on both sides of the Atlantic and with Asia-Pacific countries, he is well placed to interpret European, US and International Trade and Customs legislation especially for multinational and High Technology companies.
The services on offer from TARA are at three levels dependent upon the issue and an organisation's needs.
External Representation e.g. to the DTI, European Commission, HM Customs, the US Government and/or organisations by experienced practitioners.
Internal Consultancy, support, training, including tailor-made check lists for duty reduction, research, access to world-wide databases, and a plan of action.
Advice and Support available at the end of a phone/fax/e-mail system including access to other consultancies in UK, Europe, Japan and the United States.
Taken together, Nigel, Janet and Alex have some of the most extensive experience available in the UK. They can assist your business across the board and from top to bottom in defining the solutions to Customs problems, including:-
Tariff Classification
Import Valuations
Import Preferences
Tariff Quotas
Community Transit
Warehousing
Duty Reliefs
Seizures
VAT
Intrastat
Customs, Import and Export Systems
Advice on liability to duty
Disputes and negotiations with Customs and Excise, including requests to Customs and Excise for review of decisions
Appeals to the VAT and Customs Tribunals, the EU Commission and the European Court of Justice (at low cost)
Representation in Criminal Investigations, and Commercial Audits
There is a national problem in UK with the rapid elimination of expert Import/Export and Customs specialists in the last 10 years - to such an extent that many companies are totally deficient of any expertise and wholly reliant on Freight Forwarders who are themselves unable to acquire sufficient expert personnel. Paul, Alex and other associates have saved clients tens of millions of pounds (and customs penalties) by quiet, sensible and practical application of their experience and grafting it on to in-house personnel. But, it is not just about cost reduction. This expertise is an important component in international competitiveness at both the company and the national level.
Unlike many people involved in the business Pau
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VAT ease
VATease is an independent provider of VAT advice to accountants, solicitors and other professional services firms as well as directly to clients in industry.
Starting out in 1990 in the West Midlands, VATease has become a nationwide operation with an international list of clients. We are now one of the most respected independent VAT consultancy providers in the country.
Providing independent, professional VAT advice to large and small professionals and businesses alike, our VAT consultants have well over 50 years of VAT experience between them. Their knowledge of VAT has been gained in service with HM Customs & Excise, (now HM Revenue & Customs) and then in the reality of the commercial world.
Our VAT advice services give you access to a wide range of skills and resources as and when you need them. You can turn these resources on and off like a tap to suit your needs whilst retaining control of your costs.
Our fees are amongst the lowest nationally for the work we do and we are fully covered by Professional Indemnity Insurance.
You can rest assured that you and/or your Client will always be safe in our hands.
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Lysi
The UK's Value Added Tax legislation can often appear complex, demanding and riddled with potential pitfalls. Drawing on many years of specialisation in the VAT field, with a first-hand understanding of how HM Revenue & Customs functions in relation to VAT collection and administration, the Lysi mission is to take the mystery and the worry out of your organisation's VAT affairs.
If you are an overseas company supplying goods or services to the UK or Europe, we can guide you through the VAT minefield and so enable you to trade smoothly and maximise your opportunities. Acting as your UK agent, we will ensure that all due processes are observed and requirements met - and manage payment on your behalf.
To companies based inside the UK, we offer comprehensive VAT assistance on an ad hoc or retainer basis - and we also welcome enquiries from accountancy practices requiring help or advice with their own VAT services.
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Mainprice & Company
Mainprice & Company is a legal VAT consultancy dealing only with VAT. It has been providing VAT advice to individual businesses and to the accounting and legal professions since 1972.
It differs from most other VAT practices in that all our consultants qualified originally as barristers. VAT issues are examined on the basis of the relevant European law governing VAT, as well as of the UK domestic law that implements European law. This gives it a distinct advantage over many other VAT departments and practices. These tend to rely heavily on former Customs officers, who often tend to follow guidelines set out in their earlier training.
Mainprice & Company advises on VAT liability issues and VAT assessments and penalties. It challenges Customs' rulings where they can be shown to be incorrect and, if negotiations are unsuccessful, represents businesses of all kinds, from sole traders to plcs, in appeals to the VAT & Duties Tribunals in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Mainprice & Company specialises in advising on VAT issues related to land and property, construction services, health and welfare, further and higher education and international services.
In the past, our clients have included, amongst many others:
Bissell Homecare
Card Protection Plan Ltd
CIN Management
Deutsche Bank Morgan Grenfell
Guy Butler International Ltd
HSBC Group
Hothi Cash & Carry
Institute of Directors
Kingscrest Residential Care Homes
Primback Ltd
Saga
Trafalgar Tours
Not only was Mainprice & Company the first VAT consultancy practice but it has consistently maintained its place at the top of the league tables. In 1995, it acted for clients in three cases taken to the House of Lords. More recently, the firm represented Card Protection Plan up to the European Court of Justice and back to the House of Lords.
Because the firm has only two consultants its overheads are low and it can pass on these savings to its clients.
We will give an immediate view, without charge, on whether an issue or VAT dispute is worth taking further. You can then compare our fee scales with those of our rivals to decide whether to take advantage of our services.
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THE VAT CONSULTANCY
The VAT Consultancy was established by John Crawford in 1991 to provide independent advice on VAT matters to Corporate and professional clients alike.
Nationally, we work with over 200 firms of accountants and lawyers, advising on UK, European and other indirect tax issues. The benefits of our services to them is that we add value to their services, enhance their reputation and increase their profits.
As well as these clients, we provide advice to wealthy individuals, partnerships, overseas trusts, and non-resident companies. In addition we also specialise in providing advice to the Public Sector and NHS.
We pride ourselves on developing strong business relationships with our clients by understanding their needs and believe our expertise is underlined by their continuing loyalty.Today, clients can call on the expertise of a growing team, advising on VAT, Customs duties, lntrastat problems, and fraud investigations thus enabling us to offer a comprehensive service to meet client needs.
Acting as ‘in-house’ specialists, we offer a flexible approach, and work closely with our clients to provide an efficient and cost-effective service that consistently adds value.
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VAT Liaison
VAT legislation and practice is a complex and rapidly changing area. Keeping up to date can be time consuming and difficult. How can you be sure you are paying the correct amount of VAT? Do you have the time, resources and expertise to do this? Liaison VAT Consultancy Limited can help you identify all areas where Value Added Tax can be of positive benefit.
Liaison® handles VAT on behalf of public and private sector clients. We are acknowledged as experts in VAT. Our clients include many NHS bodies, private hospitals, government agencies, education establishments, property companies, charities and the professions.
Our Communication Centre is based in Worcester. We operate a nation-wide team of VAT Advisors who are on hand to provide practical VAT solutions wherever you are located.
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Meridian VAT Recovery
We are the recognized leader in international VAT Recovery, and we have now developed equivalent expertise in Expense Management and Accounts Payable Solutions.
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