Milsted Langdon on why HMRC is looking harder at family investment companies

Milsted Langdon has published a timely note for family-owned businesses, as HMRC widens its compliance checks on family investment companies and the trusts and structures around them.

Forensic Director James Hardy explains that HMRC is increasingly treating a company and its owners as one picture, using more data to test how money moves between the two, from directors' loan accounts to family members on the payroll.

His advice is characteristically calm: take expert guidance early and be ready to show a clear commercial rationale. A useful read from a member who knows the territory well.