About Tax Help
I’m James McBrearty and my goal is to help make tax easy for my clients
Dual Qualified
I achieved the CAT qualification in 1999, and the ATT qualification in 2001.
I was awarded fellowship of my professional association in 2011.
The ATT is the leading body for those providing UK tax compliance services.
Experienced
In practice, I was the manager of a mixed tax department for a Surrey firm of chartered accountants. I’ve also worked with a big four firm.
In industry, I’ve negotiated complex settlements with HMRC. I’ve also provided personal tax advice to the directors and UK staff of a $7 billion turnover company.
SBS 100 Alumni
I was one of the alumni from the 2014 Small Business Saturday 100, resulting in an invite to Downing Street.
Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign. Only one hundred of the UK’s top small businesses are selected each year. They act as trail-blazers in the official count-down towards the annual event.
Years in the Business
I have worked in personal tax since 1990, for leading global companies and in practice. I founded my own practice in 2006 to specialise in helping individuals.
Happy Clients
One of the reasons I am able to keep my fees affordable is because of the high levels of referrals I receive from clients.
Surrey Digital Awards
I won Gold in the 2015 awards, Silver in the 2018 awards, Bronze in the 2016 awards, and was a finalist in the 2017 awards.
My competitors for the awards included much larger businesses throughout Surrey.
From high street to Downing Street
Tax Adviser Magazine - February 2015
ATT Council member James McBrearty banged the drum for small business at 11 Downing Street in an event hosted by Chancellor George Osborne to mark the UK’s second Small Business Saturday. The US-inspired initiative focuses national attention on the nation’s 5.2 million small businesses.
James, whose tax advice practice specialises in advising one-person businesses, said ‘As a small business owner helping other small businesses, it is reassuring to see the Chancellor give his full backing to Small Business Saturday. We are a small but mighty community, acting as key drivers of the economy, taking risks and providing the opportunities for long-term job creation.’
Former ATT Council Member
I was the ATT representative on HMRC’s working together partnership, where I met HMRC’s chief executive Lin Homer.
I was also profiled in the ATT’s 2009 Annual Review and featured in the February 2021 edition of Tax Adviser magazine.
Presentations
I also give presentations to help people grow their own businesses. I have presented to small business owners throughout the South East UK as well as in Spain.
Larger presentation include to 50 financial advisers at the London School of Economics. I’ve also presented to a local group of 85 chartered accountants in Guildford. I was a guest lecturer to a class of entrepreneurs at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.
Outside of Work
I have been a member of Mensa since 1988, enjoying the group’s trips to Portmeirion and the British Grand Prix.
As a cadet in the RAF section of the CCF, I had my first flight in a light aircraft. I went on to complete the Private Pilots Licence with night rating and instrument rating (R). Over 10 years as a private pilot, I logged 350 hours in 18 different types of aircraft, before retiring from flying in 2010.