About Us
The VAT Consultancy, which was established by John Crawford in 1991, is the country’s leading independent dedicated VAT practice, giving best advice on all aspects of UK and European indirect tax matters.
The company’s team of qualified experts has proven experience in helping clients save substantial amounts of money, avoid penalties, simplify procedures and improve cashflow.
Modern technology enables the practice to keep abreast of the latest developments in legislation to ensure its advice is always accurate.
We are regularly called upon to provide expert commentary on VAT issues for international and national media, and have recently appeared on the BBC News Channel and BBC Radio 5 Live.
You can call on the expertise of specialists in:
Corporate Finance
Domestic and Commerical Property
UK and Global VAT Recovery
Local Authority VAT Issues
Charity VAT Issues
Customs Duties
Intrastat problems
VAT Fraud Investigations
Travel Industry VAT issues
John Crawford
John founded the VAT Consultancy in 1991 and is the Managing Director. His extensive prior professional experience includes 19 years with Customs and Excise and subsequently working as a VAT consultant with a major accountancy firm.
He provides advice and planning guidance for a wide range of clients and has particular expertise in the VAT issues relating to land and property transactions/development, charity exemptions and cross-border trading.
John is a regular media commentator for international TV and national radio providing expert commentary on business and consumer VAT issues, as well as a regular public speaker at industry events for business organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce, ACCA and CIOT.
Email John at: john.crawford@thevatconsultancy.com
Allison Broadey
Allison gained 13 years experience with Customs and Excise before she moved to professional VAT practice with PricewaterhouseCoopers. She joined the VAT Consultancy in 1999 where she specialises in land and property, charities and partial exemption.
Allison has previously contributed chapters on VAT issues to two tax planning books, "Land Diversification and Planning" and "Equine Tax Planning".
She is the VAT Technical Director at The VAT Consultancy and carries out regular updates for the ACCA and practitioners.
Email Allison at: allison.broadey@thevatconsultancy.com
Steve McIntyre
Following a career of 19 years with H M Customs & Excise, Steve joined the VAT practice of a big four accountancy firm in 1996 prior to moving to The VAT Consultancy in 2003.
As an experienced consultant he provides practical solutions to a wide range of VAT issues for clients in the corporate sector as well as charities and public sector bodies. He is also an experienced VAT trainer.
Over the past six years Steve has specialised in working with Local Authorities, assisting them with issues such as land and property transactions, partial exemption and capital goods scheme problems, leisure outsourcing projects and joint working arrangements with the NHS.
Most recently he has been assisting a number of Authorities with VAT issues within BSF projects for Voluntary Aided Schools and Academies. Steve is looking forward to utilising the experience gained working on BSF in order to provide solutions to issues which may arise in the Government’s Primary Capital Programme. .
Email Steve at: steve.mcintyre@thevatconsultancy.com
Peter Baumgardt
Peter spent 20 years with Customs and Excise in London and Bristol principally in the investigative side before moving into private practice as an advisor on VAT issues for businesses and non-profit organisations.
He manages the Bristol office of the VAT Consultancy and serves a client portfolio across a range of sectors in the South West, South Wales and the Midlands. Peter’s particular expertise is in the handling of fraud investigations and assessment appeals.
Email Peter at: peter.baumgardt@thevatconsultancy.com
Peter Bradshaw
Peter heads our premier EU and Global VAT recovery & registration service. He has successfully recovered millions of pounds for clients. He has a wealth of experience having spent the last twelve years working in industry managing European and Global VAT compliance issues.
Email Peter at: peter.bradshaw@thevatconsultancy.com
Zaenia Rogers
Zaenia trained and qualified at of the “big 4” firms of accountants. In 2004, having spent 3 ½ years as a chartered accountant specialising in Corporate Tax, she then decided to move into the world of VAT and joins us from a private practice. Recently successful in passing the indirect taxes route of CTA.
Email Zaenia at: zaenia.rogers@thevatconsultancy.com
Malcolm Nichols
Malcolm spent over 20 years with HM Customs and Excise including cargo clearance at Heathrow Airport and Inland Excise matters in Guildford. Malcolm left Customs in 1990 for private practice and joined The VAT Consultancy in August 2007 from a top 20 accountancy practice.
Malcolm has contributed sections to an on line reference manual, hosted seminars on various VAT issues and provided articles for publication. Over the past 17 years Malcolm has advised owner managed businesses on a wide range of issues such as construction industry VAT treatment and recovery, partial exemption for property developers and the VAT margin schemes including tour operators. He has successfully represented clients at VAT Tribunals reducing penalties and challenged HMRC over VAT
assessments leading to their being withdrawn and subsequently claiming costs.
Email Malcolm at:malcolm.nichols@thevatconsultancy.com
Richard Staunton
Richard specialises in VAT advice for the retail sector. Having spent over two years working as the in-house VAT expert for a very large retailer where he saved them millions of pounds in refunds and improved cash flow.
He now manages other large retailers in his role as the retail expert in The VAT Consultancy, both in identifying areas where savings can be made and overseeing the completion of VAT returns. He has unique first hand experience of the systems used by retailers and VAT issues affecting them and with his background in HM Revenue and Customs, is also able to recognise many other areas in which VAT and Duty savings can be achieved for businesses
Email Richard at: richard.staunton@thevatconsultancy.com
Karen Mulcahy
Spanning a career of nearly 20 years in VAT, Karen joined The VAT Consultancy in 2008. From a start with HM Customs and Excise, Karen has worked in VAT practice with two of the largest accountancy firms as well as a period in industry.
With a broad knowledge base, Karen has experience of providing practical VAT advice to a wide variety of clients from small owner managed businesses to large international corporations.
E-mail Karen at:
karen.mulcahy@thevatconsultancy.com
Mike Barnard
Following an extensive career with HMRC, Mike has worked as a consultant for the last 2 years specialising in retail and business travel VAT issues.
He is acknowledged as being the UK’s foremost expert on the Tour Operator’s Margin Scheme (TOMS) and was responsible for redrafting the current TOMS Notice, whilst heading HMRC’s Unit of Expertise.
Mike’s other specialism is Partial Exemption within the Financial Services sector, and has been working closely with Financial Planning companies, looking at the impact of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) on their business and how they can structure their systems and processes to manage VAT effectively.
E-mail Mike at: vat@thevatconsultancy.com
Zoe AtkinsonZoe is the latest recruit to The VAT Consultancy and will be working as a dedicated VAT Assistant providing research and administrative support to the rest of the team.
Zoe, who has eight years’ experience in mortgage underwriting and independent financial advice, is now looking to further her career in VAT and will be studying for her CTA (Chartered Tax Advisor) qualification.
E-mail Zoe at: zoe.atkinson@thevatconsultancy.com
Jo Prado
Jo is The VAT Consultancy’s marketing manager and “social voice” for the company. With a background in retail and PR, Jo has worked alongside John for over twelve years. She knows the business inside and out making her best placed to ensure The VAT Consultancy responds to the ever-changing world of VAT, equipping client’s with all the information they need via The VAT Consultancy’s website, regular eshot service and social media channels.
E-mail Jo at:
joanna.prado@thevatconsultancy.com
