Read the actual request before collecting everything
An HMRC letter can ask a narrow factual question or open a much wider examination. Yudey's enquiry support starts by organising the complete correspondence so the responsible professional can understand what has been requested. We ask for all pages, attachments and earlier exchanges, together with the date received. A short summary or cropped screenshot may leave out information needed to plan the response.
GOV.UK explains how tax compliance checks operate and the circumstances in which HMRC may contact a taxpayer or adviser. [1] This page does not determine your rights or obligations from the letter alone. The engagement must identify the professional responsible for assessing the request, any urgency and the appropriate response before representation or substantive advice is undertaken.
Build a chronology that preserves the context
The working chronology can record returns filed, amendments made, calls received and documents already supplied. We distinguish the date a document was created from the date it was sent or received. This helps prevent a later reviewer from assuming that HMRC saw evidence which was only discussed internally. Important gaps remain visible, with the person best placed to clarify them identified.
Where several people have handled correspondence, we agree one controlled record of the current position. Previous advisers, directors and bookkeepers may each hold part of the history. The coordination work can identify those sources and request an agreed handover. It does not authorise anyone to alter earlier records, recreate missing invoices as originals or remove material because it appears inconvenient.
Match questions to evidence rather than sending an archive
For an agreed response, we can create a question-by-question evidence index. Each item records the relevant period, source document and explanation still required. Banking, sales, payroll or expense records can then be organised around the actual issues. This is more useful than a large folder whose contents cannot be connected to the request, and it makes professional review easier to manage.
We also separate facts supported by documents from recollections and assumptions. If a transaction description is unclear, the responsible person should explain what happened and identify any supporting record. Missing evidence is not silently replaced with an estimate. Where a question touches privileged advice, another person's confidential information or a disputed obligation, the appropriate professional should decide how it is handled before disclosure.
Agree who speaks for you and what they will do
Administrative preparation and formal tax representation are distinct parts of an engagement. The proposal should state whether the work ends with an evidence pack or includes reviewing correspondence, contacting HMRC and managing defined follow-up questions. Any necessary agent authority must be completed through the appropriate process. Sending an enquiry to Yudey does not appoint an agent or transfer control of your tax affairs.
If you already have an accountant or solicitor, explain their role at the outset. We can scope coordination around the existing professional relationship, with your permission and clear ownership of decisions. More serious concerns, including allegations of deliberate conduct or possible criminal matters, require suitable specialist assessment. A routine document organisation service should not be presented as sufficient for every type of investigation.
Control the response and the outstanding actions
Before an agreed response is sent, the file should show the version reviewed, the information approved by you and any unresolved qualification. We can maintain a record of enclosures and delivery evidence where submission is part of the scope. If further questions arrive, they should be assessed against the engagement rather than assumed to be covered indefinitely by the original fee.
The action list can distinguish your tasks, professional review and HMRC decisions. It should also track requests for more time without treating a request as an agreed extension. Any deadline remains important until the responsible professional has confirmed the position. The purpose of the process is a reliable response record, not a promise that a check will close without additional tax, interest or penalties.
Request a proportionate response proposal
Fees depend on the tax involved, the periods under review, the volume of records and the representation required. The quotation identifies the initial stage, expected output and treatment of additional questions. Specialist advice or separate appeals are priced and instructed distinctly. We cannot guarantee HMRC's decision or the length of its review, even where the preparation work is completed promptly.
Begin with the type of letter, its date, the response date and whether a professional already acts for you. Do not put taxpayer identifiers or confidential evidence in the open enquiry text. An appropriate document exchange can be agreed after the scope and responsible person are established, allowing the initial assessment to focus on urgency and the actual request.
Official information behind this service
Sources checked on 7 September 2026. Use the linked guidance for subsequent changes.