Tax Due Diligence Companies in the UK: Guide to Providers
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·16 min read
Tax due diligence plays an important role in business transactions, helping buyers, investors and management teams understand the tax position of a target business before a deal progresses. Whether supporting an acquisition, investment or corporate restructuring, the process can highlight potential liabilities, identify opportunities and provide greater confidence when making commercial decisions.
The UK market is home to a broad mix of firms offering tax due diligence services. Alongside the major professional services networks, there are independent accountancy and advisory practices with extensive experience supporting transactions across different sectors, business sizes and ownership structures. Each brings its own approach, specialist expertise and depth of transaction support.
This guide introduces a selection of firms providing tax due diligence services in the UK. Rather than ranking providers, it aims to offer practical context, highlighting the types of organisations they work with, the services they provide and the areas in which they have developed particular expertise. Whether you're preparing for an acquisition, considering an investment or planning a business sale, understanding the range of available providers can help you identify a firm that aligns with your transaction objectives.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants and advisors providing tax due diligence services to businesses across the UK.
The firm works with owner-managed businesses, corporate groups, investors and UK subsidiaries of international organisations involved in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and other corporate transactions. Tax due diligence helps organisations identify potential tax risks and opportunities before completing a transaction.
Acumon provides tax due diligence services as part of its wider accounting, tax and advisory offering. The firm supports clients with corporation tax, VAT, employment taxes, financial reporting, tax advisory and transaction support, helping businesses evaluate tax positions and manage potential liabilities.
Acumon holds a Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence, enabling the firm to support organisations subject to enhanced regulatory oversight in the United Kingdom. In addition to its UK statutory audit registration, the firm also maintains audit licences in the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Jersey and Isle of Man. These licences enable the firm to support organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Tax due diligence plays an important role in business transactions by identifying tax exposures, reviewing historical tax compliance and assessing potential tax risks before a transaction completes. Early tax due diligence can help businesses make informed decisions, support negotiations and reduce unexpected liabilities following completion.
Acumon works with business owners, directors and finance teams to support tax due diligence engagements while helping organisations strengthen financial reporting, governance, internal controls and strategic decision-making.
Tax Due Diligence Capabilities
Acumon provides tax due diligence services across a wide range of organisational structures and sectors.
These include:
UK companies and corporate groups
owner-managed businesses and growing companies
UK subsidiaries of international groups
businesses involved in corporate transactions
organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions
companies undergoing restructuring or ownership changes
Tax due diligence engagements are typically led by experienced professionals with direct involvement throughout the engagement.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations
Acumon holds several audit registrations that enable it to support organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions.
These include:
UK statutory audit registration
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence
Jersey audit licence
Isle of Man audit licence
Cayman Islands audit licence
British Virgin Islands audit licence
These registrations allow the firm to support organisations operating across both the UK and key international financial centres.
Core Services
In addition to tax due diligence services, Acumon provides a range of accounting, tax and advisory services.
These include:
transaction tax advisory
statutory external audit
group and subsidiary audits
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audits
charity and not-for-profit audit
internal audit and governance reviews
risk management and compliance support
Tax due diligence work is often delivered alongside discussions regarding acquisitions, disposals, restructuring, tax planning and wider transaction strategy.
Many organisations seek professional advice before completing corporate transactions to identify tax risks, review historical tax compliance and evaluate potential tax exposures.
Acumon works with organisations that are:
buying or selling a business
planning a corporate transaction
restructuring their business
reviewing their tax position
responding to changing tax requirements
planning future growth
Early engagement can help businesses identify tax risks, improve transaction readiness and support informed commercial decisions throughout the transaction process.
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
Phone: 020 8567 3451
Moore Kingston Smith
Moore Kingston Smith offers tax due diligence as part of its wider transaction services practice, supporting businesses through acquisitions, disposals and investment activity. Their work covers the tax aspects of a transaction alongside financial, IT and operational due diligence, giving buyers and sellers a clearer view of potential tax exposures before a deal progresses. They advise organisations across a range of sectors, with a particular focus on the mid-market and SMEs.
Throughout the transaction process, they assist from the early stages of a deal through to completion and post-transaction matters. Tax due diligence is combined with related advisory work such as vendor due diligence, SPA support and ESG due diligence, allowing tax findings to be considered alongside commercial and financial factors when assessing a transaction.
Bishop Fleming includes tax due diligence within its transaction advisory services, helping businesses assess tax matters before acquisitions, disposals and corporate restructuring. Their approach considers both tax risks and the commercial objectives behind a transaction, allowing tax findings to be viewed in the context of the wider deal.
Alongside due diligence work, they advise on transaction structuring, management buy-outs, business reorganisations and HMRC clearance applications. International matters can also be supported through their membership of the Kreston network, which provides additional capability where cross-border tax issues form part of a transaction.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for business transactions
Transaction tax advice linked to commercial objectives
Support for UK and international matters
Advice on restructuring and business reorganisations
Barrington Hulse Tax & Advisory focuses on tax due diligence as a way of helping businesses understand their level of tax compliance before a transaction or HMRC review. Their work is aimed at identifying potential areas of concern early, giving business owners and professional advisers a clearer picture of tax risks that could affect a sale, acquisition or refinancing.
Depending on the circumstances, their reviews can take the form of internal tax health checks, vendor due diligence or transaction-specific tax due diligence. The scope is adapted to each business and typically covers the main taxes that are most likely to influence a transaction, including employment taxes, VAT, CIS and corporation tax.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for business transactions
Internal tax compliance reviews
Vendor due diligence support
Reviews tailored to business size and complexity
Support for business owners and professional advisers
Address: Suite 517, Chadwick House, Birchwood Park, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6AE
Phone: 01925 594 456
Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton approaches tax due diligence with a strong focus on identifying historic tax issues and understanding how tax governance may affect a transaction. Their work looks beyond individual tax liabilities to consider how tax processes, compliance and governance have been managed over time. This can help buyers assess potential financial exposure before completing an acquisition.
Where tax issues are identified, they consider the options available to resolve them as part of the transaction process, including voluntary disclosure, changes to deal terms or other measures that address potential liabilities. Their work covers a broad range of taxes and reflects the growing importance of tax governance within UK businesses.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for mergers and acquisitions
Focus on tax governance and compliance
Review of historic tax risks
Consideration of transaction-related tax exposures
RPG Crouch Chapman includes tax due diligence within its corporate finance and transaction services offering, supporting buyers, sellers and lenders during business transactions. Their reviews are designed to identify tax risks that may affect the value or structure of a deal while keeping findings practical and easy to follow.
Clients can choose between full due diligence reviews or shorter reports focused on the main risks, depending on the transaction. Tax due diligence is closely linked with financial due diligence, vendor due diligence and SPA support, giving businesses a broader picture before negotiations move forward.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for buy-side and sell-side transactions
S&W offers tax due diligence across the different stages of mergers, acquisitions and business sales, helping clients understand tax liabilities before a transaction is completed. Their work covers both purchaser and vendor due diligence, allowing tax issues to be identified early enough to influence negotiations, pricing and contractual protections where needed.
Alongside due diligence, they advise on transaction structuring, tax modelling and post-deal matters that continue after completion. Their approach links tax advice with the wider transaction process, covering legal documentation, shareholder considerations and tax obligations that may arise once ownership changes.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for acquisitions and disposals
Purchaser and vendor due diligence
Transaction structuring support
Tax modelling during transactions
Post-deal tax support
Review of legal documentation from a tax perspective
Services
Tax due diligence
Purchaser due diligence
Vendor due diligence
Transaction structuring
Tax modelling
SPA tax review
Post-transaction tax support
Contact Information
Website: www.swgroup.com
Twitter: x.com/S_W_Group
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/swgroupuk
Address: 45 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7BG
Phone: +44(0)204 617 55 00
HURST
HURST includes tax due diligence within its transaction tax services, helping businesses review their tax position before acquisitions, disposals, investments and corporate restructuring. Their process examines key tax areas that could influence a transaction, allowing buyers, sellers and investors to understand possible liabilities and compliance issues before decisions are made.
Each engagement begins with an assessment of the transaction before moving into a detailed review of taxes such as corporation tax, VAT, PAYE and stamp duty. The findings are used to highlight tax exposures, identify areas that may need further attention and support discussions between legal, financial and commercial advisers throughout the deal process.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for business transactions
Support for buyers, sellers and investors
Reviews covering major UK tax areas
Tax assessments for restructuring projects
Transaction support alongside legal and financial advisers
BDO includes tax due diligence within its wider transaction services offering, supporting businesses through mergers, acquisitions, investments and fundraising. Their approach looks at the tax position of a business alongside other areas of due diligence so that buyers and sellers have a clearer understanding of the issues that could affect a transaction. The scope of the review depends on the type of deal and can form part of a broader advisory process from the early planning stage through to completion.
Alongside tax due diligence, they cover related transaction matters such as tax structuring and post-transaction support. Their services are available to businesses of different sizes, private equity investors and financial institutions, with tax findings considered alongside financial and operational factors when decisions are being made.
Deloitte approaches tax due diligence as part of the wider planning process for mergers and acquisitions, helping organisations understand tax implications before a transaction is completed. Their reviews examine historic tax compliance, existing tax exposures and future obligations so that businesses have a clearer picture of the tax position they may inherit after a deal closes.
Beyond identifying risks, their transaction tax teams assess different tax structures that support the commercial goals of an acquisition or disposal. Cross-border transactions are a significant part of their work, with tax, legal, accounting and financial specialists contributing to the overall review where international considerations are involved.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for mergers and acquisitions
Review of historic tax compliance
Assessment of future tax obligations
Cross-border transaction experience
Tax structuring alongside due diligence
Multidisciplinary transaction support
Services
Tax due diligence
Transaction tax structuring
Cross-border tax advisory
Tax compliance reviews
Tax risk assessment
Post-merger tax planning
Transaction tax advisory
International tax support
Contact Information
Website: www.deloitte.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deloitteuk
Twitter: x.com/deloitteuk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/deloitte
Address: 1 New Street Square, London, EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7936 3000
Saffery
Saffery carries out tax due diligence to help buyers understand the tax position of a business before ownership changes. The review focuses on historic tax compliance, ongoing HMRC enquiries and potential tax exposures that could affect negotiations or future liabilities after completion. The scope can be adjusted to suit the size and complexity of the transaction.
Depending on the circumstances, the review may include corporation tax, employment taxes and VAT, together with an assessment of tax attributes that could continue after the acquisition. Tax findings are often supported by recommendations on contractual protection, post-completion priorities and tax matters linked to previous reorganisations.
Address: Midland House, 2 Poole Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 5QY, UK
Phone: +44 (0)1202 204744
Crowe
Crowe includes tax due diligence within its wider transaction advisory services, helping buyers, sellers and investors assess tax matters before completing a deal. Their reviews look at tax risks alongside other areas of due diligence so that businesses can understand how tax issues may influence valuation, negotiations and future planning. The work supports transactions ranging from acquisitions to private equity investments.
An integrated approach brings tax together with financial, operational and legal considerations, giving clients a broader view of a transaction. Depending on the deal, tax due diligence may be combined with planning, transfer pricing advice, purchase agreement support and post-completion services to address tax matters throughout the transaction lifecycle.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for acquisitions and investments
Support for buyers, sellers and private equity firms
Address: 3rd Floor, St George's House, 56 Peter Street, Manchester M2 3NQ
Phone: +44 (0)161 214 7500
Accace
Accace provides tax due diligence for organisations involved in buying or selling a business, with reviews designed to identify tax risks before a transaction is completed. Their assessments focus on the target company's tax position and highlight issues that may affect negotiations, purchase price or future liabilities. The work covers businesses ranging from start-ups to larger international organisations.
Every engagement is shaped around the transaction, allowing the scope to reflect the size and complexity of the deal. Tax due diligence forms part of a wider review that may include legal and financial matters, giving businesses a clearer understanding of the issues that could influence the outcome of an acquisition or disposal.
Key Highlights
Tax due diligence for buyers and sellers
Support for domestic and cross-border transactions
Address: Berkeley Suite, 35 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 5BF, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 207 692 8481
Forvis Mazars
Forvis Mazars treats tax due diligence as an important part of transaction planning, helping businesses assess historical tax compliance and identify exposures before a deal progresses. Their reviews examine areas that could create future tax costs, allowing organisations to consider those issues during negotiations and when deciding how a transaction should be structured.
Along with reviewing tax risks, they advise on acquisition structures that support commercial objectives and future tax planning. Their work covers UK and international transactions, with specialists across different tax disciplines contributing where matters such as VAT, employment taxes, transfer pricing or stamp taxes need detailed consideration.
Address: 3 Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3AX, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0) 121 232 9500
JW Hinks
JW Hinks offers tax due diligence as part of its broader due diligence services for businesses involved in mergers, acquisitions and investments. Their reviews examine tax compliance, existing liabilities and potential tax opportunities so that organisations have a clearer understanding of the tax position before completing a transaction. Tax due diligence is considered alongside financial, legal, commercial and operational reviews where required.
Each assignment is shaped around the circumstances of the transaction, with findings presented as part of an overall risk assessment. Recommendations are intended to help businesses address identified tax issues before or after completion, giving decision-makers practical information to support the next stage of the deal.
Choosing a tax due diligence provider depends on the nature of the transaction, the complexity of the business and the level of tax risk involved. Some firms focus primarily on mid-market acquisitions, while others support larger domestic and international transactions or offer specialist advice on areas such as tax governance, restructuring or cross-border matters.
The firms included in this guide take different approaches to tax due diligence, but they all aim to help businesses understand tax liabilities before a transaction is completed. Reviewing the scope of their services, industry experience and wider transaction capabilities can help buyers, sellers and investors identify a provider whose approach fits the requirements of a particular deal.
AC
Written by the Acumon team
Acumon is an ICAEW-registered firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors
based in London, with offices in Pitstone, Aylesbury and Bournemouth. Need advice on
anything covered here? Talk to us.
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