Michael Ashdown
Head of VAT and Indirect Taxes
Michael started his career in HM Customs and Excise (as was) before joining the profession and passing his tax exams. He worked at a Big 4 firm and for the past 12 years has been a director at a Top 10 firm.
Throughout his career Michael has worked with owner-managed businesses and has undertaken a great deal of work with other professionals, as well as with a number of property and construction companies.
He has sat on the Land & Property Liaison committee with HMRC and was involved in the discussions with HM Treasury that led to the new rules on VAT and Vouchers.
Michael has been involved with one of the large advertising and media organisations for a number of years, providing advice as well as regular updates for staff on indirect tax. He has worked with several clients involved in the international supply of goods and services, and he has recently been looking at the effect that the introduction of VAT in the Gulf region will have on storing and selling goods within that area.
Michael is a Chartered Tax Adviser as well as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers. In his spare time Michael is trying to improve his running and goes to the gym a few times a week.
“VAT can be a highly complex tax, especially in the property sector where similar transactions may have differing VAT liabilities, depending on the background and the facts,” says Michael. “In the international field, it may be necessary to register for VAT if you make supplies to customers in a country, even if you do not have a permanent establishment there for direct tax purposes. There are a number of interactions between VAT and Customs duty, and post Brexit, there may be further changes introduced to our VAT system.”
Michael is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, the leading professional body in the UK for advisers dealing with all aspects of taxation whose primary purpose is to promote education in taxation with a key aim of achieving a more efficient and less complex tax system for all.
