About Us

OUR BACKGROUND

Stephen Fennell (Director) spent 28 years with H M Customs & Excise where he was a Vat Specialist for some of the largest Companies/Businesses in the Country.

As the Departments designated officer for these multi national businesses he was responsible for ensuring that £ Billions of Tax was accounted for correctly and that these businesses received a ‘world class’ professional service from the Department.

His skills as both a Classroom & Practical Trainer helped enhance his technical abilities and he has delivered training events/seminars at locations throughout the UK. Latterly, Stephen specialised in the Retail Sector working in the Departments Centre of Operational Expertise for Retail at the same time as having the control and day to day responsibility for both ASDA & WmMorrison Supermarket chains.

It was Stephen’s reputation and experience working in the Department which prompted Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc to seek his services and appoint him as their Group Indirect Tax Manager. This role had wide ranging responsibilities covering all aspects of Indirect Taxation and he successfully managed the integration of Safeways Vat Group and its associated businesses into Morrisons.

His professionalism & people skills shone through and he was asked to undertake several large projects by the Board of Morrisons which included reorganising large departments, accounting systems & processes.

After 3 successful years at Morrisons Stephen set up his own business (SEF Vat Consultants) initially as a sole proprietor but then expanding and developing into SEF Vat & Indirect Tax Consultants Ltd (SEF).

Stephen now ‘heads up’ a team of consultants (situated in the north of England, London, Midlands and the South West) who between them have over a 100 years worth of experience working for H M Revenue & Customs coupled with extensive experience working for Tax Practices in the Private Sector.

This combined ‘Wealth of Experience’ makes us a formidable team with an intimate knowledge of Vat legislation across ALL Trade Sectors plus a comprehensive appreciation of HMRC working practices.

EXPERIENCE

With our extensive and collective experience SEF prides itself in being able to provide comprehensive assistance across all Trade Sectors and to illustrate this what follows is a list of Vat issues we have been actively involved and successfully concluded on behalf of our clients over this last 12 months:

• Assisted client to reclaim Vat incurred in other EU countries
• Assisted client to reclaim Vat back incurred in non EU country (Norwegian Vat)
• Assisted Spanish company in pursuit of a UK Vat claim
• Represented client in a dispute with HMRC regarding ‘Evidence of Export’
• Undertook Partial Exemption calculations for a regular client
• Regular liaison with HMRC Options to Tax team electing to ‘Waive Exemption’ for numerous clients
• Capital Goods Scheme (CGS) calculations submitted to & approved by HMRC
• Car Industry issues taken up with HMRC
• Building/Construction industry – liability issues assistance with Zero Rating & Reduced Rating Certificates
• Administration matters with HMRC including Registration, Deregistration and Variations of client particulars in the Vat Register (change of legal Entity etc)
• Distance Selling/Sales Appeals to various Tax Authorities in the EU and
• Provide regular assistance/support to a Housing Association with its complex Tax regime