Advice : Expertise : Training : Support
Expertise is at the centre of everything we do. Explore the key areas where Ashworth ETS focuses our specialised advice, designed to help navigate your most critical requirements with confidence and clarity.
Employment Tax Compliance and Investigations
Reviews initiated by HMRC can often be difficult to handle particularly when it comes to grey areas and negotiating settlements. Having over 40 years of experience dealing with HMRC, we have extensive knowledge which can help clients understand HMRC powers, prepare for inspections, undertake negotiations with HMRC and bring reviews to a swift and cost effective conclusion.
We also carry out employment tax, PAYE and payroll reviews and healthchecks for clients, mimicing HMRC compliance reviews to identify and rectify areas of risk, together with assisitng in any voluntary disclosures to HMRC.
Employment Status
If HMRC are able to successfully challenge the self-employment status of workers, this can lead to significant liabilities for the engaging company (such as the full amount of PAYE/NIC that should have been deducted and up to 100% in penalties). Employment status is usually a grey area as it is not defined in legislation but there have been many court cases over the years which provide insight into what factors need to be considered.
Off-Payroll Working(IR35)
Off‑payroll working rules (IR35) continue to be one of the biggest compliance risks for organisations engaging contractors. Incorrect status determinations can lead to significant PAYE, NIC, interest and penalties — and HMRC is increasingly active in reviewing contractor arrangements.
How IR35 affects your business
Contractor status decisions — ensuring each engagement is correctly assessed
Tax and payroll exposure — avoiding unexpected liabilities for PAYE and NIC
HMRC scrutiny — preparing for enquiries and demonstrating reasonable care
Process and policy gaps — strengthening internal controls and documentation
How we support you
We help employers navigate IR35 with practical, defensible solutions. This includes reviewing contractor roles, preparing compliant Status Determination Statements, advising on risk areas, and building processes that stand up to HMRC challenge. Our aim is simple: to protect your business while keeping your contractor workforce running smoothly.
Construction Industry Scheme
Many UK businesses are caught by these rules, even some that do not operate a construction business but who spend significant amounts on building work or repairs.
CIS is like operating a supplementary payroll system, with identification of operations caught, ongoing verification for subcontractors and obligations to withhold deductions and make monthly returns to HMRC.
Penalties for non-compliance can be significant.
National Minimum Wage
Managing responsibilities under the NMW legislation is so much more complex than paying a worker the correct rate per hour. Many employers, both large and small (including accountancy and legal firms), have fallen foul of the intricate technical aspects which can lead to penalties of up 200% being imposed and employers being publicly named and shamed. HMRC are ever increasing the number of investigations in this area and have spent significant budgets to increase resources.
Global Mobility Solutions
In today’s globally connected workplace, employers must navigate complex UK and international tax obligations while creating flexible environments that attract and retain top talent. With remote and cross‑border working now standard practice, getting global mobility right is essential for long‑term success.
Common global mobility challenges
UK companies with overseas workers — temporary or permanent assignments abroad
Employees requesting international remote work — balancing flexibility with compliance
Overseas businesses expanding into the UK — hiring UK staff or relocating existing teams
Non‑UK resident directors — understanding tax and reporting obligations
Overseas employees working in the UK — managing UK workdays and payroll requirements
Our global mobility specialists work closely with you to understand your business goals and align them with the needs of your people. We provide end‑to‑end support across all areas of international employment tax, ensuring compliance, clarity, and confidence.
Salary Sacrifice
We have assisted many clients with implementing cost saving ideas via salary sacrifice such as pensions and company cars. We can provide clients with feasibility studies as proof of concept and an estimate of savings and assist with a whole range of services from implementing and communicating such arrangements to employees and securing HMRC approval.
Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind (BIKs)
From April 2027, all BIKs must be payrolled, replacing the P11D system. Employers need to prepare for this transition and preparation is essential
We can support you to ensure you are ready for the transition
- Plan, communicate and review your current P11D processes.
- Support you in considering whether to register to voluntarily payroll benefits from April 2026 and get ahead of the game
Other Services
- Redundancy/Termination Payments
- Travel and Subsistence
- P11D Reporting
- PAYE Settlement Agreements
- Short Term Business Visitors/Cross Border Workers
- Expenses and Benefits (including flexible benefit schemes)
- Expense Policies
- Due Diligence Reviews (for mergers and acquisitions)
Training & knowledge sessions
We provide bespoke training and knowledge sessions tailored to your team's objectives and operational needs. Across all of our core focus areas, we design custom learning experiences and move that beyond generic theory to address your specific challenges.
From targeted upskilling workshops to high-level strategic briefing sessions, our experts deliver the pratical knowledge and actionable insights your team needs
Specialist
Consultancy
Forget one-size-fits-all tax advice.
We deliver tailored employment tax consultancy that directly addresses your business challenges.
Whether you need to structure tax-efficient benefits, manage payroll risks, or master cross-border compliance, we provide the insights you need to move forward with complete confidence.
Contact us to talk about how we can you and your business.