Firms facing a rise in the number of visits from Inland Revenue inspectors are being given a helping hand from Bradford's tax doctor.

Accountants Horwath Clark Whitehill, which has offices in Bradford, Keighley and Leeds, have set up a team offering a Pay as You Earn Health Check headed by health and fitness instructor Carl Whittaker.

Mr Whittaker is senior tax partner at the firm and based at its Keighley office. He is a former tax inspector with the Inland Revenue and helped set up one of the first PAYE compliance schemes which examined some of the top financial institutions in London.

The service has been set up as the Inland Revenue is increasing the number of PAYE visits to firms. The visits are more thorough than before and also look at National Insurance following the move of the Contributions Agency to the Inland Revenue in April.

He said: "Inspectors now look at PAYE records for the six previous year as well as the current financial year. The visits can take in any aspect of PAYE - scores of different things from statutory sick pay to sporting entertainment and car benefits to casual workers."

The Health Check is being made available to firms which are not clients of the accountancy company and involve an in-depth fact-finding visit and production of a detailed report assessing additional tax liability.

Mr Whittaker added: "This is good housekeeping. Firms should be doing it anyway if they want stability.''

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