Experts in handling IR35 enquiries and risk.
IR35 status
assessments
years' IR35
experience
The UK's first
IR35 status tool
over
IR35 Status Assessments
and counting...
“There was a lot of pressure throughout the compliance check, like one wrong step and it could all go wrong. However, IR35 Shield briefed us on how things may develop, which enabled the business to prepare for potential events. It felt as if HMRC were fault-finding, not fact-finding, so being forewarned really helped us.”
Chief Talent Officer - Adaptive
Even for fully compliant businesses, IR35 or Off-payroll working checks can be time-consuming and costly.
An IR35 compliance check typically begins with a letter from HMRC asking how your organisation applies the off-payroll working rules. They’ll want to see your processes for hiring contractors, assessing employment status, and managing outsourced services.
Even if you’ve followed the rules, responding properly is vital, and this is where we help. Our specialist IR35 defence team helps you navigate this process with clarity and speed. We’ll review your documentation, prepare a robust response, and manage all correspondence from the start to the finish, minimising disruption to your business.
HMRC begins by reviewing the systems and processes your organisation uses to apply the off-payroll working rules.
They’ll ask how you hire contractors who operate through intermediaries, how you determine their employment status, and what checks you carry out to confirm if outsourced services are genuinely contracted out.
Your answers help HMRC decide whether to take the enquiry further - which is why it is so important to get it right from the outset!
IR35 Shield's tax defence service provides expert representation during HMRC IR35 investigations, drawing on our considerable tribunal experience to resolve compliance checks quickly and efficiently. Clients benefit from professional handling that can close investigations within months, avoiding costly tax bills and business disruption while providing complete peace of mind throughout the process.
Chris Leslie has over 30 years’ legal experience defending clients in disputes with HMRC. His years managing Status Inspectors at HMRC, combined with his specialist qualifications in analytics, give him an in-depth understanding of how to counter the arguments used by HMRC.
As the founder of IR35 Shield and a recognised authority on off-payroll working rules, Dave has been deeply involved in IR35 policy, legislation, and litigation for over 20 years. A published author and former contractor, Dave leverages his extensive knowledge of IR35 tax tribunals to provide both practical and strategic insight into status assessments, case law, and HMRC defence.
Dave and Chris’ in-depth knowledge of IR35 and off-payroll combines to provide expert defense and guidance for your business. For help with an IR35 audit or compliance check please get in touch with our team.
The team successfully defended IT Contractor Richard Alcock at First-tier Tribunal, which defeated two barristers representing HMRC Solicitor’s Office. Chris and Dave worked together for 18 months to build the case defence before defending during a four day hearing. They succeeded in countering HMRC’s IR35 Opinion and extended time assessments with the Judge upholding RALC’s appeals.
When a long-time client of IR35 Shield received notice of an IR35 investigation by HMRC, the company turned to IR35 Shield's compliance experts for representation. Within months, the investigation was closed with no tax bill.
Dave and Chris are currently managing a range of IR35 enquiries and also offer consulting for businesses to help ensure their procedures and processes achieve defendable positions in light of the new off-payroll working legislation.
Don't just take it from us, listen to why our satisfied customers recommend our IR35 defence service.
“There was a lot of pressure throughout the compliance check, like one wrong step and it could all go wrong. However, IR35 Shield briefed us on how things may develop, which enabled the business to prepare for potential events. It felt as if HMRC were fault-finding, not fact-finding, so being forewarned really helped us.”
Marie Downes
Chief Talent Officer
“Knowing that you have experienced, industry-leading experts on hand to help navigate interactions with HMRC provides our business with significant peace of mind.”
Mike Bobroff
Central Ops and Change Director
While many internal teams understand their hiring processes, most lack specialist knowledge of IR35 legislation and case law.
Handling a compliance check without expert support can lead to incorrect responses that raise more questions, overlooked risks in contracts or working practices, longer investigations and higher disruption and Increased risk of penalties.
IR35 Shield provides independent, case law-backed expertise, allowing your business to carry on as usual whilst we deal with HMRC.
We keep our finger on the pulse of IR35. You can trust our advice and guidance is always up to date.
The off-payroll rules apply only to contracts where either the client is a UK tax resident or the work is carried out in the UK...
Read moreThe IR35 reforms that came into effect in April 2021 do not affect small companies. Nonetheless, some small companies...
Read moreIR35 status assessments delivered to our customers. And counting.
The average recommendation score from our customers.
The year we built and released the UK's first IR35 status tool.
Definitive IR35 status results. Inside or outside IR35, no indeterminates.
Over 20 years of experience at the cutting-edge of IR35.
Defence cost cover available with our Tax Investigation Service.
