Lessons from the Angela Rayner Stamp Duty Row 

The Angela Rayner stamp duty saga has dominated the headlines. But beyond the politics, there’s a powerful lesson here for accountants and solicitors: never stray into giving VAT or tax advice unless you’re fully qualified and insured to do so. 

Here’s what happened. 

Angela Rayner admitted she had not paid the correct amount of Stamp Duty on a property purchase. She claimed she relied on her conveyancing solicitor’s advice. The solicitor, Verrico & Associates, immediately denied this, stressing that they never give tax or trust advice and always refer clients to experts. 

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers backed them up, reminding the public that conveyancers are not even licensed to provide tax advice. Yet despite all this, the solicitor’s name was dragged through the press. They became the scapegoat. 

Sound familiar? It should. Because this is the exact risk every accountant and solicitor faces when clients assume you’ll “just know” the tax or VAT position. 

Why this matters to you 

Whether you’re a solicitor handling conveyancing or an accountant handling year-end, the danger is the same: 
– Clients expect advice you’re not licensed/trained to give. 
– When things go wrong, you get blamed. 
– Even if you didn’t give the advice, you can be accused of it. 
 
The outcome? Damage to your reputation, stressful complaints, and potential regulatory or PI nightmares. 
 
And here’s the truth: with VAT and property taxes becoming more complex, the risks are only growing. 

A better way: refer, don’t advise 

The smartest firms have already changed their approach. Instead of dabbling in VAT or tax advice, they: 
– Build a referral network of qualified specialists. 
– Position themselves as connectors who bring in the right expertise. 
– Protect themselves from PI risk while still keeping control of the client relationship. 
 
And when done right, this isn’t just safer, it’s more profitable. 

How the Accountants VAT Club helps 

That’s exactly why we created the Accountants VAT Club. 
 
It’s designed for accountants and solicitors who want the benefits of offering VAT expertise without the burden of delivering it themselves. 
 
As a member, you’ll gain: 
 
✅ Expert VAT support – access to Chartered Tax Specialist UK Jane Deeks and her team. 
✅ Extra profit – package VAT advice into your services while we deliver it behind the scenes. 
✅ Client retention – you look after your clients, we provide the answers. 
✅ Happy clients – no more awkward “I don’t know” moments or risk of being blamed. 
 
Think of it as a safety net: you’re protected, your clients are looked after, and your firm grows stronger. 

Final thought 

The Angela Rayner case shows how quickly professionals can be dragged into a tax row, even when they’ve done nothing wrong. 
 
Don’t let that be your firm. 
 
With the right referral partner, you can: 
– Keep your reputation intact 
– Reduce risk 
– Make more profit 
– And build stronger, happier client relationships 
 
👉 Learn more about the Accountants VAT Club today and safeguard your firm’s future. 
 
Because in today’s tax landscape, the only thing worse than giving the wrong advice… is being accused of giving it when you didn’t. 

Contact info@deeksvat.co.uk for more information and a free no obligation chat.