Quest Duthoit works with clients of diverse sizes and sectors.
We make it our business to get under the skin of your business, to offer you informed advice and a bespoke, expert service.
This is just a snapshot of the areas and industries in which we work.
Click on the links below to find out more about the clients we work with.
- Personal Tax Cases
- Architects and Surveyors
- Building and Construction
- Care Homes
- Design and Office Refurbishment
- Doctors
- Farming
- Health Care Professionals
- Hotels and Guest Houses
- Management Consultancy
- Manufacturing
- Motor Dealers and Garages
- Pharmacies
- Printing
- Public Houses and Restaurants
- Recruitment
- Retail
- Solicitors
Personal Tax Cases
We have managed a host of challenging cases in this field, ranging from returns for high net worth individuals with diverse sources of income and trust funds, to the basic compliance return. We have also successfully handled cases involving negotiation over longstanding arrears, agreeing enforcement tax liabilities, and disclosure of previously undisclosed overseas income in the HMRC amnesty.
- Timely notification of liabilities
- Constant review to reduce payments on account
- Estimated capital gains tax calculations prior to sale
- Tax advice re investments/pensions
- Negotiations with HMRC
- Planning to maximise use of tax bands
- Inheritance tax planning
- Trust returns and R185s
Architects and Surveyors
Our work with architects and surveyors has involved client relationships as long as 15 years. Specialist activity has included supporting cash management processes in line with the RIBA work stages. We have also reviewed accounting options for time recording and work in progress, enabling clients to put in place the ideal system for their needs.
Our accountancy experience in the architectural sector includes the following:
- RIBA work stages — planning
- WIP/Cost provisions
- Time recording systems
- Cashflow management
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
- Company Structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Building and Construction
In our work with building companies over a period of 20 years, our role has included helping businesses when they were going through a period of financial difficulty, assisting management in making key business decisions and offering ongoing strategic advice. Our support to firms in taking control of their financial planning and contract costing has generally contributed to rapid expansion.
Our accountancy experience in the construction industry includes the following:
- Construction Industry Scheme
- VAT issues
- Sage Construct accounting software
- Financial risk assessment
- Company Structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Care Homes
Working with care homes for 15 years has involved establishing systems for the reconciling of income, maximising tax claims regarding the refurbishment of some homes, and counsel on exit routes. We have also advised on keeping ongoing income tax to a minimum, discussing the option of incorporation and claims for personal use.
Our accountancy experience in the field of care homes includes the following:
- Property tax implications
- Capital allowance maximisation
- Review of finance options
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Design and Office Refurbishment
Our 10-year industry experience has included working with start-ups that have become highly successful businesses. Activity includes implementing contract costing systems, establishing strong working relationships with the finance teams of our clients’ manufacturers to achieve the ‘common goal’, and counsel on all tax and commercial aspects.
Our accountancy experience in the design and refurbishment sector includes the following:
- Dealership agreements
- Contract costing solutions
- WIP/Cost provisions/Mock up costs
- Company Structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Doctors
In our work with doctors’ practices over five years, we have carefully handled a number of complex tax matters, as well as partnership issues such as the appointment and retirement of partners, the financial effect of certain practice decisions on individual partners, and the management of partnership capital accounts.
Our accountancy experience in the medical sector includes the following:
- PMS/GMS
- Dispensing practices
- Annual certificate of pensionable profits
- VAT issues
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
Farming
With over 15 years’ experience in the farming sector, our work has included advising on opportunities and tax planning activities surrounding diversification. We have also minimised clients’ ongoing tax liabilities using the capital allowance and averaging rules to maximum benefit, and considered the capital gains tax and inheritance tax options relating to exit routes available to farmers.
Our accountancy experience in the farming industry includes the following:
- Property tax implications
- Review of purchase finance options
- Capital allowance maximisation
- Profit averaging
- Review of diversification schemes
- Sole traders:
- Expenses
- Motor vehicles
- Private use
Health Care Professionals
Acting for dentists and other healthcare professionals for up to 20 years, our expertise includes assisting with the purchase and disposal of practices, the tax aspects and financing of the acquisition of new practice premises, and support with refurbishment projects.
Our accountancy experience in the dental and medical care includes the following:
- Goodwill issues
- Partnership/Limited Company option
- Superannuation
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
- Company Structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Hotels and Guest Houses
Acting for hotel clients for 15 years, we have been involved in activity such as long term capital gains tax and inheritance tax planning, in relation to sale or transfer of hotel businesses. We have also advised on the tax and commercial aspects of decisions regarding extensions and refurbishments, as well as encouraging cash and stock control and the introduction of point of sale touch screen systems.
Our accountancy experience in the hotel industry includes the following:
- Property tax implications
- Capital allowance maximisation
- Cash control
- Review of finance options
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Management Consultancy
Our 20-year experience in management consultancy has included advising on the break-up of original partnerships into diverse businesses. We have also counselled on matters such as maximising the net income received on an annual basis including spouse as partner, business percentages, incorporation alternatives, and pension contribution planning.
Our accountancy experience in the field of management consultancy includes the following:
- IR35 considerations
- Considerations of commercial risk
- Time recording systems
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
- Sole traders:
- Expenses
- Motor vehicles
- Private use
Manufacturing
Working for manufacturing companies for over 10 years, we have advised on diverse issues including protecting risk by incorporating, diversifying product and client ranges, and maximising the tax and commercial advantages of purchasing additional machinery and opening new production units.
Our accountancy experience in the manufacturing sector includes the following:
- Stock control solutions
- WIP/Cost provisions
- Machinery purchase/lease options
- Import/Export
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
Motor Dealers and Garages
In 20 years of working with motor dealerships and garages, we have enjoyed assisting companies with their growth and expansion by counselling on tax and planning issues surrounding company structures and opening of new showrooms, and implementing exit strategies.
Our accountancy experience in the motor industry includes the following:
- Kerridge accounting system
- Used car VAT margin scheme
- AFRL audits
- Parts stock control system
- VAT issues
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Pharmacies
Acting for pharmacies over five years has involved specialist activity including advising on tax issues surrounding the sale of shares, and the tax aspects and financing of refurbishments of pharmacy premises.
Our accountancy experience in the pharmaceutical sector includes the following:
- Property tax implications
- Goodwill issues
- PPD/NHS/retail income
- Stock control
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
Printing
A challenging time for the printing industry has meant tough choices for our clients for many years. We have advised on everything from key purchasing decisions for printing press technology and control of work in progress, to strategic direction for their businesses.
Our accountancy experience in the printing industry includes the following:
- Machinery purchase/lease options
- Stock control solutions
- WIP/Cost provisions
- VAT issues
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Public Houses and Restaurants
In acting for public houses and restaurants for 10 years, we have counselled on the purchase of freehold properties and brewery leasehold agreements, implemented point of sale touch screen systems, and helped clients focus on achieving gross profit ratios and other industry measurements.
Our accountancy experience in the pub and restaurant industry includes the following:
- Financial review of brewery lease agreement
- Property tax implications
- Point of sale stock control systems
- Cash control
- Tips and troncs
- Cash control
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Recruitment
Our 20-year experience in the recruitment sector has included planning for exit strategies, devising incentive packages for agency consultants, and providing a complete bookkeeping and accountancy service to allow teams to focus on their marketing and performance targets.
Our accountancy experience in the recruitment sector includes the following:
- Cashflow management
- Considerations of commercial risk
- VAT issues
- Purchase/sale advice
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Retail
Our retail experience of 20 years includes assisting management with tax issues surrounding the purchase of new retail outlets and warehouses, extraction of profits and long term structure regarding ultimate sale or transfer. We have also advised on how to substantially improve cash management, and helped implement point of sale stock control systems.
Our accountancy experience in the retail sector includes the following:
- Point of sale stock control systems
- Cash management
- Property tax implications
- VAT issues
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners
- Company structure:
- Extraction of profits
- Directors/Shareholdings
Solicitors
Acting for firms of solicitors for 20 years, we have enjoyed the challenge of solving complex tax matters and carefully handling a number of partnership issues, including the appointment and retirement of partners, the financial effect of certain practice decisions on individual partners, and the management of partnership capital accounts.
Our accountancy experience in the legal sector includes the following:
- SRA – solicitors accounts rules
- Client money ledger software systems
- LLP option
- VAT issues
- Partnerships:
- Partnership current accounts
- Prior profit adjustments
- New and retiring partners