I’m James McBrearty, and have always specialised in personal tax. I built up my experience in industry and practice over 17 years before going on to found my own practice in 2006.
I set up taxhelp.uk.com to specialise in helping individuals with their personal tax. My goal is to make tax as easy as possible for clients.
Professional Qualifications
I achieved the CAT qualification in 1999, and the ATT qualification in 2001.
In was awarded fellowship of my professional association in 2011. I received my membership certificate at the ceremony held at the House of Lords.
I have also volunteered for my association. I was the ATT representative on HMRC’s working together partnership in Tolworth. It was there where I met HMRC’s chief executive Lin Homer.
I was also profiled in the ATT’s 2009 Annual Review.
Industry/Practice experience
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.
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.
Author
I am the author of two books to help small business. My first book, Chocks Away, was published in 2010. Power Climb, my second book, was published in 2012. Both books have been endorsed by a NY Times bestselling author.
My online business course
In 2016 I launched an online small business course to help small business owners avoid common mistakes when starting a consultancy. I now have over 10,000 students enrolled in 153 countries around the world.
Small Business Saturday 100
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.
In 2018, I returned to Number 11 for a Small Business Saturday event to celebrate small businesses in the UK.
The 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.
Outside of Work
I have been a member of Mensa since 1988. Through my membership I’ve enjoyed several of the group’s annual trips. Particularly memorable are those 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).