Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

BDO ADR mini-series, Episode 1: Face to face

4th Mar 2014
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

In this week's episode of BDO's five-part video mini-series on alternative dispute resolution (ADR), we re-visit clients Mr and Mrs Spencer-Smith as they enter into the opening phase of the mediation process. 

The series gives viewers a chance to be a fly on the wall during the entire dramatised ADR process, from the initial BDO tax adviser meeting to the settlement.

In this fictional case, the Spencer-Smiths are embroiled in a tax dispute with the Revenue which has been running for over three years. 

The Spencer-Smiths and their HMRC investigators, Mr Blood and Mr Gain, are at loggerheads with each other and in this week's video, they come face-to-face for the very first time in their dispute history.

According to BDO’s tax director, Dawn Register, who gives a running commentary alongside the drama, mediation day is about two months after a client is accepted into the ADR process. In the opening phase of mediation, tensions may still run high depending on the case's complexity and, although they've been briefed, clients can remain sceptical of the process, she adds. 

And for our fictitious Mr Spencer-Smith, it certainly seems that way. 

"I want to make sure these idiots know we have been right all along and this has been a dreadful witch-hunt," he says in the video, arriving at BDO for the day-long mediation.

This week's episode also introduces us to the HMRC mediator, Anstey Thomas, who presides over the day and initially holds a joint meeting where everyone is present. Emotions run quite high between the Spencer-Smiths and Revenue inspectors as they eye each other over the table while Anstey Thomas reads out the issues under dispute. These include travel expenses in the company accounts, a project for an extension and refurbishment works to the business premises and four other individuals on the payroll.

What will the Revenue inspectors’ and clients’ opinions of each other be, after meeting for the first time? Is a solution likely in the next eight to ten hours? Watch the video embedded in this article to find out more. 

Interesting dispute fact:Last week, we asked you what the longest running-tax dispute you or a client has experienced. Just over half of respondents (54%) said “over three years”. 

Now answer our new poll below:

Tags:

You might also be interested in

Replies (2)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By carnmores
05th Mar 2014 14:33

i do hope that this is not the

Spencer-Smiths that i know ......

Thanks (0)
Replying to lionofludesch:
avatar
By DawnR
05th Mar 2014 20:42

I hope not too !

I can assure you that I thought of this name to avoid a real client who had a very similar emotional reaction to our fictional 'Mr Spencer-Smith'. 

Thanks (0)