Anyone has dealt with sca-tax.co.uk who speciliased in SLDT refund?

ileven1225

Saw the advert online and advertised that if purchasing a property through ltd company as buy to let, there are 29 ways of claiming stamp duty partially or fully as a refund from HMRC. 

Checked their review on Trustpilot, seems really good but looks like too good to be true?
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/sca-tax.co.uk

Got in touch with them, they seem very pushy and wanted you to sign a simple form to authorise them to fill forms and claim SDLT from HMRC on your behalf. Once it is successful and they recieve the refund, they will transfer to your bank account with 3rd of total refund reduction as professional fee. 

I just wonder if they are legit or another form of scam. In addition, has anyone used them or heard them before?

Thanks

Dazed_and_C0nfused

ileven1225 said:

Saw the advert online and advertised that if purchasing a property through ltd company as buy to let, there are 29 ways of claiming stamp duty partially or fully as a refund from HMRC. 

Checked their review on Trustpilot, seems really good but looks like too good to be true?
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/sca-tax.co.uk

Got in touch with them, they seem very pushy and wanted you to sign a simple form to authorise them to fill forms and claim SDLT from HMRC on your behalf. Once it is successful and they recieve the refund, they will transfer to your bank account with 3rd of total refund reduction as professional fee. 

I just wonder if they are legit or another form of scam. In addition, has anyone used them or heard them before?

Thanks

If you are due a stamp duty refund why don't you just claim it yourself?

And receive 100% of the refund, not 66.66%.

eskbanker

Obviously responses from well-meaning but anonymous forum posters aren't as reliable as paid legal or financial advice, but the MSE thing to do would be to discuss the circumstances on here, to see if the hive mind can identify any routes to refunds, completely free!

ileven1225

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

ileven1225 said:

Saw the advert online and advertised that if purchasing a property through ltd company as buy to let, there are 29 ways of claiming stamp duty partially or fully as a refund from HMRC. 

Checked their review on Trustpilot, seems really good but looks like too good to be true?
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/sca-tax.co.uk

Got in touch with them, they seem very pushy and wanted you to sign a simple form to authorise them to fill forms and claim SDLT from HMRC on your behalf. Once it is successful and they recieve the refund, they will transfer to your bank account with 3rd of total refund reduction as professional fee. 

I just wonder if they are legit or another form of scam. In addition, has anyone used them or heard them before?

Thanks

If you are due a stamp duty refund why don't you just claim it yourself?

And receive 100% of the refund, not 66.66%.

I was not aware of 29 ways of SLDT relief and not specilised at SLDT either. I also do not believe it's a straighforward thing but a tax expert shall be able to make a legit claim. It was the intention anyway. 

ileven1225

eskbanker said:

Obviously responses from well-meaning but anonymous forum posters aren't as reliable as paid legal or financial advice, but the MSE thing to do would be to discuss the circumstances on here, to see if the hive mind can identify any routes to refunds, completely free!

You are right and would like to know if anyone has dealt with them before and if they are legit. Of course, a tax advisor would be another route.

Do you have any suggestion on SLDT advisor? 

eskbanker

ileven1225 said:

eskbanker said:

Obviously responses from well-meaning but anonymous forum posters aren't as reliable as paid legal or financial advice, but the MSE thing to do would be to discuss the circumstances on here, to see if the hive mind can identify any routes to refunds, completely free!

You are right and would like to know if anyone has dealt with them before and if they are legit. Of course, a tax advisor would be another route.

Do you have any suggestion on SLDT advisor? 

No, my suggestion was to seek advice on here, not about advisors but about the situation you'd be looking for advice about!

p00hsticks

To start at the beginning ..
Have you actually purchased a property via a limited company ? Or are you considering whether this is the best way to buy one ? 

There are pros and cons to holding property in this way - for an example, I believe a limited company has no CGT allowance to use on selling. 

ileven1225

eskbanker said:

No, my suggestion was to seek advice on here, not about advisors but about the situation you'd be looking for advice about!

Yes, I would like to know what other people think about this situation, thanks 

ileven1225

p00hsticks said:

To start at the beginning ..
Have you actually purchased a property via a limited company ? Or are you considering whether this is the best way to buy one ? 

There are pros and cons to holding property in this way - for an example, I believe a limited company has no CGT allowance to use on selling. 

Yes, I have already bought them under Ltd company and paid SDLT at the purchase.

The reason I posted it there is to seek feedback on if that company is legit not scam 

mybestattempt

@ileven1225.

I've had no dealings with this company.

Please bear in mind that if a refund of SDLT is claimed (by making an amended return) HMRC normally simply "process" it and issue the refund claimed without question.

However, HMRC can later (within 9 months of the claim) "check" the amendment and could decide it was incorrect and then you would then be liable for repaying the whole refund.

Before signing up for a firm to make any claim on my behalf, I would want to know what that firm is prepared to do if HMRC check and then refuse the claim, some months after processing a refund.

poseidon1

Per companies house Swimby Carroll Anderson Ltd  ( SCA's official moniker) is a brand new company set up April 2024. Since then Mr Anderson resigned January 2025 and the business has file zero trading accounts to date.

Add in the fact there is absolutely no indication of the business owners' professional credentials or  qualifications on their website ( or anywhere else), left me scratching my head as who exactly are these people.

Still, did discover that Mr Swimby when he is not running his 'successful' SDLT consultancy can be found heading up his equally 'successful' Jewellers business Hardcastle Swimby Ltd, despite  Companies House intial efforts to have the company struck off. Needless to say no trading accounts for that business either.

On this showing I have severe doubts any conscientious MSE forum member will have partaken of SCA's services, so you will have to make your own judgement of their legitimacy.