Graham Poles

Graham significantly improved our tax position, ensuring that it was correct for our business. He successfully communicated our unique complexities to HMRC and other relevant authorities, all of whom who were satisfied with the submission. This delivers a tax efficiency and significant saving that directly improves our business growth, boosts our R&D capabilities and will hasten the launch of a new, job-creating product in Cumbria.

We are absolutely delighted with the outcome.

In all my dealings with Graham, I have found him to be exceptionally professional. He has dealt with several complex issues for me, including the merger of several businesses. He is very well supported by a strong team at Armstrong Watson and has been instrumental in allowing me to expand my business to multiple locations. I would highly recommend Graham and Armstrong Watson

We moved to Armstrong Watson due to their specific legal sector expertise and knowledge.  We have been very pleased with the quality and efficiency of the accountancy, tax and financial advisory services provided by Andy Poole, Graham Poles and the rest of the AW team.  We value the fact they truly understand our business and the legal sector as this enables them to provide us with pro-active valued added advice and suggestions to make our business and strategic business planning even better.

I became subject to an enquiry by the Revenue with regard to a self employed individual who would assist from time to time in the business.  The Revenue wanted to argue that he was an employee and this would have significantly increased the costs of using this person.

I engaged Graham Poles of Armstrong Watson to assist with this enquiry and he immediately took control and pulled together evidence to support our argument.  After protracted correspondence and an internal review, HMRC agreed that the individual was self employed.  Graham was always professional in his dealings and ensured I knew what the position of the enquiry was at every step.  I would thoroughly recommend both him and Armstrong Watson.

We are business owners from Dumfries and Galloway and we have had the rather unfortunate experience of being subjected to an enquiry by HM Revenue & Customs.

We had previously thought our affairs had been correct and up to date, however, we had not fully understood the taxation system and were unaware of certain reporting requirements and the interaction with international tax issues.

Having never had any former experience of an HM Revenue & Customs enquiry we did not know what to expect but from the start of the enquiry Armstrong Watson, and in particular, Scott McIver assisted us throughout the process. 

When we first met Scott he immediately made us feel at ease and took on a great deal of the burden of the enquiry. Scott and his team, which also consisted of Graham Poles, collated and analysed all the necessary information. HM Revenue & Customs had requested details of our business and personal affairs for the previous 20 years and Armstrong Watson prepared a formal report for submission to HM Revenue & Customs.

Perhaps the most daunting aspect of the enquiry was the formal interview we had to attend with HM Revenue & Customs Officers. Scott and Graham both attended the meeting with us which provided us with a great deal of comfort.

Scott ensured there was always good and clear communication between us and HM Revenue & Customs so that we all knew exactly where we were, what was required and what needed to be done. 

As a direct result of their efforts the penalties which HM Revenue & Customs could impose were reduced as far as possible. This in itself was a great result, however, by far the greatest benefit was knowing that we had Armstrong Watson and Scott assisting us through the process.

I always find the advice offered by the Armstrong Watson Tax Team to be pragmatic and helpful. The depth of their knowledge impresses, and unlike many advisers, they have the ability to explain their advice to me in language that I can actually understand!

Graham Poles, Tax Partner at Armstrong Watson, became involved in the HMRC enquiry into my residency status in April 2011 when it was first listed at the First Tier Tribunal. Graham provided support to us and helped us to build our case in defence of my position. Graham has always been very professional and certainly very knowledgeable in this area. He took the time to understand my position and was always available for me to discuss the case with. The case continued for three years, building toward the tribunal and Graham helped me to set out my witness statement and those of my other witnesses in a coherent fashion so that HMRC withdrew from the hearing just three days before. Since our win, Graham has continued to support us in our case against the Revenue for their administrative mishandling of the case.

Graham has been a great support to myself and my wife during this very testing time and I have considered him someone I could turn to with any issue I face in relation to the enquiry and therefore I would recommend him to anyone because of his professional manner and expert knowledge.

We have been with Armstrong Watson for approximately 10 years. Armstrong Watson has handled both my dental practice accounts and the accounts for our rental houses. Since Graham has taken overall supervision in recent years we have benefited from a greatly improved service with a complete overview of our joint situation. We have always been treated with consideration and appreciate his friendly professionalism. We have felt that all our financial questions have been answered fully and promptly by Graham.

We turned to Armstrong Watson for advice about a recent property transaction.  Our situation was complex as my husband works abroad.  The advice we received was thorough, timely and ultimately very beneficial to us.  Armstrong Watson was extremely professional and we would not hesitate to come back for financial advice in the future.