Looking for an Advisor

Radioactive

I need to find a competent advisor who can help me with the following issues:

• Determination of Domicile. I have self-assessed my domicile based on the contents of RDR1, but I would like a second (expert) opinion.

• Tax planning related to a return to tax residency after a long period of living and working overseas. This will no doubt be impacted by the decision as to my domicile.

• Writing of Will. Again, my domicile will need to be determined prior to this.

Because I am not yet in the UK, my contact with the advisor will need to be online.

I have been looking for a suitable advisor via internet searches, but should I be looking for an independent financial advisor, a tax planner, a tax advisor, a chartered accountant, a solicitor, or something else? Many of the websites I have seen look very professional, and claim wide-ranging experience in a variety of matters, but choosing one firm in this way seems like something of a gamble.

Would looking for a member of STEP be a good starting point or is there a better way of identifying a suitable advisor?

Many thanks.

00ec25

how rich are you and how much are you willing to spend?

the most comprehensive service and the best possible answers will come from the private client arms of the "big 4" chartered accountant firms. However, their fees may make your eyes water... (or they may simply turn you down as being too poor to bother with)

https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/tax/solutions/private-client-services.html

https://www.pwc.co.uk/services/tax/managing-personal-wealth-and-taxation.html

http://www.ey.com/uk/en/services/tax/personal-taxes/ey-our-personal-tax-service

https://home.kpmg.com/uk/en/home/services/tax/private-client.html

Pennywise

Avoid a "general" accountant. What you need to look for is a member of the chartered tax institute (CIOT) or STEP as you say. You don't have to use the big 4 firms to find one - lots of CIOT and STEP tax specialists are independent and run their own small practice. A good starting point would be the members directories on the CIOT and STEP websites.

Radioactive

00ec25 wrote: »

However, their fees may make your eyes water... (or they may simply turn you down as being too poor to bother with)

Many thanks for your reply and for the links. I doubt they would reject me on the basis of my wealth, but having been employed by members of the "big 4", I am aware of their fees and that is one reason why I would not consider approaching them.

Radioactive

Pennywise wrote: »

Avoid a "general" accountant. What you need to look for is a member of the chartered tax institute (CIOT) or STEP as you say. You don't have to use the big 4 firms to find one - lots of CIOT and STEP tax specialists are independent and run their own small practice. A good starting point would be the members directories on the CIOT and STEP websites.

Thank you Pennywise. You have provided a good starting point. I shall start looking for an experienced practitioner with these credentials and who is a principal of a small provincial practice.

Should I act as if I were engaging a tradesman, obtaining quotes from two or three likely advisors before plumping for one?

Pennywise

Radioactive wrote: »

Thank you Pennywise. You have provided a good starting point. I shall start looking for an experienced practitioner with these credentials and who is a principal of a small provincial practice.

Should I act as if I were engaging a tradesman, obtaining quotes from two or three likely advisors before plumping for one?

Yes, you need to talk to 2 or 3 but decide on how much confidence they give you, not just their hourly rate. Someone who really knows their stuff may be able to spend just an hour or two, whereas someone a bit rusty may take twice as long if they need to research etc, so the former may cost more per hour, but less overall and give better advice.

Radioactive

Pennywise wrote: »

Yes, you need to talk to 2 or 3 but decide on how much confidence they give you, not just their hourly rate. Someone who really knows their stuff may be able to spend just an hour or two, whereas someone a bit rusty may take twice as long if they need to research etc, so the former may cost more per hour, but less overall and give better advice.

Thank you. This all sounds like good advice and I am most grateful.