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

ileven1225

mybestattempt said:

@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.

Really good suggestion thanks , thats the advices I need. Really appreciated 

ileven1225

poseidon1 said:

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.

That’s really good due diligence made, did you find everything through companies house? Thanks 

poseidon1

ileven1225 said:

poseidon1 said:

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.

That’s really good due diligence made, did you find everything through companies house? Thanks 

Yes, when considering doing business with unknown entities, wise to make Companies House your routine point of reference. Can provide useful insights if you know what to look for.
However SCA's website also suspicious again if you  know what to look for. To coin an old fashion expression from my professional perspective its ' all mouth and no trousers'.

Grumpy_chap

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. 

Which of the available reliefs and exemptions do you think might apply in your case?
https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/reliefs-and-exemptions

If you share more details about the property purchase, corporate structure there may be contributors to the forum that can advise.
For the majority of cases, a SPV Ltd Co purchasing regular domestic property for BTL operation will be subject to the SDLT with the surcharge applied.

ileven1225

poseidon1 said:

Yes, when considering doing business with unknown entities, wise to make Companies House your routine point of reference. Can provide useful insights if you know what to look for.
However SCA's website also suspicious again if you  know what to look for. To coin an old fashion expression from my professional perspective its ' all mouth and no trousers'.

Typically what you usually look for on Companies House and their own website? Sorry that I do sound like a newbie but appreciated if you could provide some advices. Thanks

ileven1225

Grumpy_chap 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. 

Which of the available reliefs and exemptions do you think might apply in your case?
https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/reliefs-and-exemptions

If you share more details about the property purchase, corporate structure there may be contributors to the forum that can advise.
For the majority of cases, a SPV Ltd Co purchasing regular domestic property for BTL operation will be subject to the SDLT with the surcharge applied.

SCA Tax discussed with me about two properties purchased within last 3 yrs time. It seems once I was them my company name, they can find out what properties under the company.

one is new build and bought it off the plan.
One is a renovation project and combined two properties into one. However, they were not totally inhabitable when purchased, very poor condition but got kitchen and toilets, very damped wall and there were leaks but not serious. 

poseidon1

ileven1225 said:

poseidon1 said:

Yes, when considering doing business with unknown entities, wise to make Companies House your routine point of reference. Can provide useful insights if you know what to look for.
However SCA's website also suspicious again if you  know what to look for. To coin an old fashion expression from my professional perspective its ' all mouth and no trousers'.

Typically what you usually look for on Companies House and their own website? Sorry that I do sound like a newbie but appreciated if you could provide some advices. Thanks

A small part of my previous professional career included  forensic accounting work in respect of offshore trusts.

When consulting  Companies House I look at a variety of matters  including:

1) When was the company incorporated and when it commenced trading

2) The published annual  company accounts, strength of the balance sheet,  business turnover and profit and loss account.

3) Who are the directors and do they have majority control of the business. What other business's are they  associated with or have been associated with. Did those businesses fail.

As for the website, and with regard to professional service firms, I want to know who are the individuals providing the specialist advice, what are their professional qualifications and how long have they been active within that arena. More often than not, a firm will have mini Bios on key front line staff/ fee earners which maybe helpful in getting a sense of their potential credibility. 

In the case of sca's website you will see when clicking on ' Our team' on the drop down menu this link produces nothing.

https://sca-tax.co.uk/partnerships

It is the only link that goes nowhere. That by itself suffices for me to write off this firm completely.  The knowhow of your staff is what you are selling, so who are they? A company's website is its front window where important first impressions are made. A lot of marketing 'fluff' with no substance does not impress me.

In fairness to you my level of due diligence and investigation is definitely not the norm on MSE forums, However,  for me it is instinctual and is a product of my specific professional background and training. As I say you need to know ( or have been trained) what to look for.

mybestattempt

ileven1225 said:

Grumpy_chap 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. 

Which of the available reliefs and exemptions do you think might apply in your case?
https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/reliefs-and-exemptions

If you share more details about the property purchase, corporate structure there may be contributors to the forum that can advise.
For the majority of cases, a SPV Ltd Co purchasing regular domestic property for BTL operation will be subject to the SDLT with the surcharge applied.

SCA Tax discussed with me about two properties purchased within last 3 yrs time. It seems once I was them my company name, they can find out what properties under the company.

one is new build and bought it off the plan.
One is a renovation project and combined two properties into one. However, they were not totally inhabitable when purchased, very poor condition but got kitchen and toilets, very damped wall and there were leaks but not serious. 

I think you should look at this HMRC guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/stamp-duty-land-tax-manual/sdltm00385

ileven1225

poseidon1 said:

A small part of my previous professional career included  forensic accounting work in respect of offshore trusts.

When consulting  Companies House I look at a variety of matters  including:

1) When was the company incorporated and when it commenced trading

2) The published annual  company accounts, strength of the balance sheet,  business turnover and profit and loss account.

3) Who are the directors and do they have majority control of the business. What other business's are they  associated with or have been associated with. Did those businesses fail.

As for the website, and with regard to professional service firms, I want to know who are the individuals providing the specialist advice, what are their professional qualifications and how long have they been active within that arena. More often than not, a firm will have mini Bios on key front line staff/ fee earners which maybe helpful in getting a sense of their potential credibility. 

In the case of sca's website you will see when clicking on ' Our team' on the drop down menu this link produces nothing.

https://sca-tax.co.uk/partnerships

It is the only link that goes nowhere. That by itself suffices for me to write off this firm completely.  The knowhow of your staff is what you are selling, so who are they? A company's website is its front window where important first impressions are made. A lot of marketing 'fluff' with no substance does not impress me.

In fairness to you my level of due diligence and investigation is definitely not the norm on MSE forums, However,  for me it is instinctual and is a product of my specific professional background and training. As I say you need to know ( or have been trained) what to look for.

Do you have some websites that are good examples to your eyes? Not those super big companies but some small medium enterprise companies that you believe their websites and information in Companes House are really convincing.  It would help me. 

Much appreciated. 

poseidon1

ileven1225 said:

poseidon1 said:

A small part of my previous professional career included  forensic accounting work in respect of offshore trusts.

When consulting  Companies House I look at a variety of matters  including:

1) When was the company incorporated and when it commenced trading

2) The published annual  company accounts, strength of the balance sheet,  business turnover and profit and loss account.

3) Who are the directors and do they have majority control of the business. What other business's are they  associated with or have been associated with. Did those businesses fail.

As for the website, and with regard to professional service firms, I want to know who are the individuals providing the specialist advice, what are their professional qualifications and how long have they been active within that arena. More often than not, a firm will have mini Bios on key front line staff/ fee earners which maybe helpful in getting a sense of their potential credibility. 

In the case of sca's website you will see when clicking on ' Our team' on the drop down menu this link produces nothing.

https://sca-tax.co.uk/partnerships

It is the only link that goes nowhere. That by itself suffices for me to write off this firm completely.  The knowhow of your staff is what you are selling, so who are they? A company's website is its front window where important first impressions are made. A lot of marketing 'fluff' with no substance does not impress me.

In fairness to you my level of due diligence and investigation is definitely not the norm on MSE forums, However,  for me it is instinctual and is a product of my specific professional background and training. As I say you need to know ( or have been trained) what to look for.

Do you have some websites that are good examples to your eyes? Not those super big companies but some small medium enterprise companies that you believe their websites and information in Companes House are really convincing.  It would help me. 

Much appreciated. 

OK to be clear I have zero interest in SDLT avoidance/mitigation schemes.

However if I were scraping the internet to find a smallish operator in this area then the website of the consultancy  below might have been worth my having a 2nd look.

https://deeksvat.co.uk/team/simon-howley/

In the  case  of the  bio for the SDLT specialist at deeks, this lead me to the RICS isurv professional resource portal where I was able to confirm  Mr Howley  is  indeed a contributing author to their SDLT forum.

What would have very much tipped things in their favour as a firm worth seeking out, is making the shortlist of finalist for the prestigious 2024 Tolleys Taxation Awards in the VAT specialist section. They were mentioned in the same company as  illustrious firms such as  PWC and DLA Piper  - very large international Accountancy and Law firms, respectively. So clearly a very small firm with the ability to attract plaudits from their professional peers.

In the case of this firm, the Companies House information is inconclusive, but their professional profile amongst  their peers was sufficiently convincing.

 SCA by contrast presented as a very 'empty vessel', with nothing going for them in anyway