Monty Jivraj
Monty is one of the leading practitioners in the field of tax disputes and investigations, with over 25 years’ experience assisting high-net-worth individuals, owner-managed businesses, and large corporates on tax disputes and investigations with HMRC, from enquiry stage to appeals before the tax tribunals and national courts. He is experienced in handling cases covering a wide range of UK and EU tax legislation, including arising out of HMRC tax policies and public notices, VAT investigations and disputes, as well as handling white collar crime cases and commercial dispute resolution.
Highlights
- A limited company (current) v HMRC– Acting for a large car dealer to defend HMRC’s decision to deny millions of pounds of input tax on zero-rating sales of vehicles.
- Duesmann & Hensel Recycling– Successfully opposing HMRC’s decision to refuse UK VAT refund applications from the precious metal trade which ran to millions of pounds.
- Atlantic Electronics v HMRC– Achieving savings of millions of pounds by challenging tax decisions which fell substantially within the client’s right to opt out from legal costs.
- ‘An individual’ v HMRC– Challenging the lawfulness of a search warrant issued by HMRC in the High Court
- Demazda International UK Ltd– Challenging a Notice of Direction issued by HMRC to ‘keep specified’ business records.
- A UK Business v HMRC – Challenging HMRC’s VAT assessment in millions of pounds, for output tax zero-rated exports of high value cars.
- A UK business v HMRC - Breach of confidence, breach of statutory duty and defamation claims, securing damages for loss of business arising as a result of HMRC’s actions for breach of taxpayer confidentiality.
- A UK Business v HMRC - Value Added Tax – Repayment of input tax – applying to debar HMRC from bringing proceedings in relation to their denial of input tax.
Client Testimonial
"Having Monty on our side throughout our case has benefited us immensely. His expertise from a wealth of experience has given us reassurance and confidence we are receiving unparalleled services. His actions are thorough, persistent and in a timely professional manner that has raised our position to a place we wouldn't have reached without him."
Expertise
As an ex-international cricketer, he brings the tenacity, energy, and dedication of a professional sportsman to his work as a tax disputes and investigations specialist. His long association with HMRC means that he can translate and guide his clients on complicated government policies, white collar crime and tax investigations and disputes with HMRC, National Crime Agency and the Serious Fraud Office, enabling clients to understand the impact of tax laws which can result in significant savings, including for example where Monty recently secured a multi-million-pound VAT refund for a major corporate client, thereby enabling the client to avoid insolvency.
Monty has expertise in the following areas:
- HMRC tax disputes and investigations
- Brexit VAT issues and EU VAT recovery
- Customs & Excise
- UK VAT refunds and assessments
- Criminal investigations into tax evasion and account-freezing orders
- HMRC ‘dawn raids’
- Judicial reviews
- White Collar Crime & Investigations
- Covid furlough and Eat out to help out investigations
Career History
- Spencer West, Senior Tax Consultant : Sept 2021 - Dec 2022
- Fletcher Day, Head of Tax : Mar 2021 - Sept 2021
- Gannons, Head of Tax Investigations : Oct 2020 - Dec 2020
- Branch Austin LLP, Head of Business Tax : Aug 2017 - Sept 2020
- Jeffrey Green Russell, Senior Tax Consultant : Sept 2008 - Mar 2015
Education
- Diploma in Computer Programming Systems Analysis and Design – Seneca College Canada
- Diploma in computer packages – Graffins College – Kenya
- A level in Shaaban Robert School – Tanzania