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M^CKIE & CO – recognised pre-eminence

M^cKie & Co, which was established in 1998, is a tax advisory firm which specialises in solving the taxation problems of private clients. The firm advises high net worth individuals and the solicitors, accountants and other advisers of such individuals.

The quality of our work and of our service to our clients has been recognised in both of the two major professional awards for taxation advisers; the STEP Awards and the Taxation Awards. We have been shortlisted four times in the STEP Awards, winning the ‘Boutique Firm of the Year’ category in 2009. In the Taxation Awards we have been shortlisted eleven times winning the ‘Tax Consultancy Firm of the Year’ category in 2012 and again in 2015 and, in 2022, the ‘Best Private Client Tax Practice’ category. These Awards provide an objective demonstration of the quality of our practice and of the respect in which it is held.

‘M^cKie & Co offers the highest level of specialist trust and tax service. Their broad experience and clear, logically ordered and positive advice was reflected in positive client references.’

~ Judges for the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners Award ~

WHO WE ARE

M^cKie & Co is a chartered tax advisory practice consisting of two partners, Simon and Sharon M^cKie, who are well known for their expertise in private client tax matters. We are probably the only firm of tax specialists in the country which can say that all its principals are Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Simon and Sharon are the joint authors of M^cKie on Statutory Residence and Tolley’s Estate Planning and other works on taxation and sit on a number of technical committees of professional bodies concerned with the taxation of the private client.

Read more about our partners View our publications

WHY US?

We provide bespoke taxation advice of the highest technical standard whilst taking account of practical constraints. Tax legislation is becoming ever more complex and we take care to provide clear logically ordered advice which is free of jargon. We pride ourselves on our relationships with our clients which are the cornerstone of our practice. Our clients appreciate that we are approachable as well as professional.

WHAT CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US

‘I consulted Simon M^cKie for advice on Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax planning in relation to assets held in a trust I had settled. Simon’s report was clear and methodical listing the various options and their resulting tax consequences. It enabled me to plan my future strategy in a structured manner. Simon’s technical expertise and his detailed understanding of my situation was very impressive and demonstrated thorough professionalism.’

‘I consulted M^cKie & Co, having determined that they were the leading experts on the Statutory Residence Test, wishing to receive an expert second opinion in respect of the advice I had received from my accountants on one particular aspect of the Test. M^cKie & Co produced a substantive Report, together with a short guide to its contents, which answered my questions clearly and as exactly as the uncertainties inherent in the relevant legislation permitted. They did so in double quick time several days earlier than they had undertaken to…

‘M^cKie & Co has impressed us with their extensive knowledge of tax law and regulation and their strong technical expertise and trustworthy advice. They explained the law of some very complicated tax matters in a way which was very logical and easy to follow. They are highly professional in all respects.’

‘We entered our financial planning with little knowledge and found Sharon M^cKie very easy to talk to. Her clear explanation of things was a great help. We were very impressed by the very in-depth report that was made of our financial position and the possibilities she offered regarding our inheritance planning.’

‘We were faced with determining the taxable results of current and proposed future transactions which were dependent on decisions made 15 years ago in respect of retirement benefits provision. The factual situation was extremely confused and, because the original decisions were made without the benefit of taxation advice, the application of the relevant taxation provisions was unclear and uncertain. M^cKie & Co’s Report set out the relevant factual situations with clarity and precision and lucidly explained the application of the relevant taxation provisions. It explained various uncertainties of construction and…

‘We requested advice concerning the application of Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax on transactions in a property held as tenants in common, by the Executors of an estate and the Trustees of an Interest in Possession Trust. M^cKie & Co produced a Report which clearly set out the application of the relevant tax provisions to those transactions, the effect that differences in valuations might make to the tax charges arising on them and the resulting issues in respect of returns and accounts, assessment and limitation periods and penalties and…

‘M^cKie & Co may have saved my life. The stress of a tax enquiry into an ill-drafted legal document is intense. Simon and Sharon’s depth of knowledge and ability to understand a legal and tax problem of great complexity was invaluable to me and my family, and their calm manner and willingness to help in difficult circumstances helped me through a very dark period.’

‘I have had extensive dealings with the M^cKie & Co team over the years. Their thoroughness and professionalism is very impressive and they have been a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Simon M^cKie’s advice has always been technically exact, relevant and practical. The reason, however, that I value his advice very highly is because he is careful to ensure that I understand the application of the taxation provisions which are relevant to my affairs, any uncertainties there may be in that application and the alternative financial outcomes which are dependent upon those uncertainties. In this way I am equipped to make decisions based on an accurate assessment of probabilities. In a long-running disagreement with HMRC, in which I was eventually entirely…

‘Sharon and Simon M^cKie are a formidable litigation support team. Penningtons and M^cKie & Co acted for a client in relation to an appeal to the Court of Appeal. M^cKie & Co produced a 136 page report in record time which was a comprehensive and highly technical paper containing a detailed analysis of the Special Commissioners’ decision. It was a clear and succinct summary of both the law and relevant principles from which we and Counsel derived tremendous benefit. We cannot help but commend them on a high degree of…

‘As a private client, I greatly appreciate Simon and Sharon’s considerateness and dedication. They explain the relevant law clearly and succinctly without technical jargon so that I am aware of the issues which are relevant to my affairs. Their obvious technical competence and thoroughness is very reassuring.’

‘We have known and worked with Simon M^cKie for many years. In particular, we worked together on a crucial application to the Supreme Court in a high-profile piece of tax litigation. Simon combines technical excellence and an encyclopaedic knowledge of tax with the utmost pragmatism and first class client service. He is without doubt one of the big names in the tax world.’

‘M^cKie & Co reviewed our affairs and produced a comprehensive Estate Planning Report which included specific recommendations and set out the advantages that they offered. They explained complex technical matters clearly and as concisely as was possible and avoided jargon. M^cKie & Co had a clear understanding of the interaction of our personal affairs with those of our business and liaised effectively with our other advisers in New Zealand and in the UK on the practical implementation of their proposals. They gave us very carefully considered and personally appropriate advice…

‘M^cKie & Co’s work is always technically strong and creative. Their advice is extremely practical and clearly sets out for our clients the disadvantages and uncertainties inherent in tax advice as well as its advantages. Our services to our clients are enhanced by having access to their expertise.’

‘M^cKie & Co brought order where there had been confusion and advised me clearly, and without using jargon, in precise, ordinary English.’

As a busy general practice we find it enormously useful to have access to an authoritative source of private client taxation expertise.

‘I was positively impressed by the depth of the analysis. The initial response was also very good. Most importantly I appreciate the high availability of the advisor to timely answer my phone calls looking for clarifications.’

‘In dealing with HMRC on complex tax planning strategies, Sharon M^cKie’s advice is invaluable. She has that rare combination of an exact attention to minutiae and the ability to understand and apply arcane technical concepts whilst keeping in mind the larger picture.’

‘Sharon M^cKie advised me on my UK residence status and in particular, the application of the exceptional circumstances exception to my situation. She was extremely thorough in determining the factual background which is, of course, key to such advice. Her advice was clear, concise and comprehensive and went beyond the strict scope of her engagement in highlighting another tax matter which required resolution. Nothing was too much trouble for her.’

‘We very much value the specialist support that M^cKie & Co provide to us. Their advice is of the highest technical standard and is delivered in a way which is intimidating neither to us nor to our clients. Their work is extremely comprehensive and their attention to detail is reassuring.’

‘The application of many of the tests used to determine residence is very uncertain. To someone hoping to conduct his life so that it is clear that he is not UK resident that is very worrying. M^cKie & Co’s technical precision, clear exposition and reassuring manner was a great comfort at an anxious time.’

‘M^cKie & Co offers the highest level of specialist trust and tax service. Their broad experience and clear, logically ordered and positive advice was reflected in positive client references.’

‘Simon M^cKie’s expert advice in respect of a professional negligence claim concerning taxation advice was invaluable. He clearly explained the extremely complex provisions which were relevant to the claim and identified the key tax issues in respect of duty, damage, quantum and mitigation. The quality of his advice and the clarity of his oral and written explanations were instrumental in assisting our client in their defence and resolution of this matter.’

‘Your expert witness report was thorough, clear, practical and to the point. In an area of great technical complexity it identified the key issues with objectivity and precision.’

‘The Inheritance Tax regime for Pension Schemes was introduced in April 2006 as a “simple” regime. Sadly, it is anything but. On complicated issues concerning taxes on retirement savings I have found M^cKie & Co’s help invaluable.’

‘Insurance policies structured as investment products and the standard trusts which insurance companies supply with them are designed to appear straightforward but their simple presentation disguises their technical complexity. In a matter of some difficulty M^cKie & Co identified the numerous complexities and provided clear and practical advice on the resulting tax effects which aided us in resolving our client’s difficulties.’

‘I have known Simon professionally for close on thirty years and Sharon for a good twenty. It was to them that I chose to transfer my consultancy practice in 2000 and in terms of their technical expertise, inventive solutions and general client care, I am convinced that I made the right decision. Since then I have had occasion to refer to both Simon and Sharon on a number of knotty issues and have been unfailingly impressed by their command of the subject.’

WHERE ARE WE?

Our offices are in Somersetshire but we have meeting room facilities in London. We are very happy, if they so wish, to travel to our clients.

CaN we help you?

If you have a matter on which you require tax advice please contact us by completing the form opposite.