Gary Ashford is a well-known Tax partner, with particular expertise in contentious tax matters. He previously held senior positions at HMRC and leading accountancy firms.
He has particular expertise in complex structures, including trusts and funds both in the UK and overseas, and supports non domicile and international clients in identifying areas of risk in their tax affairs. Gary is an expert on the various overseas tax agreements, international transparency and exchange of information. He also handles some of the most serious tax enquiries.
Gary has particular expertise assisting clients who need to make disclosures to HMRC or who are under Code of Practice 8 & 9 (COP8 and COP9), or criminal tax investigation.
He also advises private clients, trusts and corporate clients on a range of complex tax issues such as restructuring, residence, non domicile/remittances, employment and property tax and various other matters including areas such as VAT and pensions.
Gary spends a considerable amount of his time helping high-net-worth and high-profile individuals who are worried they have unknowingly entered into tax avoidance planning, or overseas structures. Gary is also advising, in collaboration with our Employment, Litigation and Reputation Management groups, on tax risks and disputes, helping individuals protect what is rightfully theirs while at the same time limiting any media exposure.
Gary is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and sits on the CIOT Council. He is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is also a committee member of the ICAEW Tax Investigation Practitioners Group.
- UK and Offshore tax matters
- Non-domicile tax planning, HMRC enquiries and tax investigations
- Code of Practice 8 and 9 (COP8 and COP9) and criminal investigations
- Developments in global transparency
- Various FATCA, inter-governmental agreements
- Large tax disputes
- Corporate tax structuring and re-structuring
- Employment taxes and VAT
Gary is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and sits on the CIOT Council. He is a current member of the Professional Standards sub-committee. He represents CIOT on the Professional Affairs Committee of the Confédération Fiscale Européenne (CFE), the umbrella body for tax advisers in Europe, and sits on the CFE General Assembly. Additionally Gary is a committee member of the ICAEW Tax Investigation Practitioners Group and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Gary has over 25 years’ experience in the tax industry and joined Harbottle & Lewis in 2014 from the boutique financial services advisory firm, Kinetic Partners. Prior to this Gary worked at organisations including HMRC, EY, and Grant Thornton. He was also previously National Head of Tax Disputes at RSM Tenon.
