The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers

Activities

The Company is complementary to the various professional bodies concerned with the practice and administration of taxation, notably by bringing together all those involved in the tax profession.

The Company provides regular briefings to the Lord Mayor and his staff on tax matters. During his year in office, the Lord Mayor travels extensively, with the status of a minister, meeting ministers and officials of overseas governments and overseas business people. Those visits are aimed at facilitating international trade and promoting the UK’s financial services industry. The Company’s contribution is to help him understand the related tax issues.

The Company also discusses tax matters of common interest with other livery companies.

The Company is proud of its affiliations with the Armed Services. These comprise an affiliation with HMS Bangor, one of the Royal Navy’s Sandown Class minehunters; an affiliation with 101 Squadron, Royal Air Force, based at RAF Brize Norton; an affiliation with the Army Adjutant General's Corps; an affiliation with the City of London & North East Sector Army Cadet Force and additionally a similar link has been established with the Westminster St John Ambulance Cadet Unit.

The Company's Year

The Company's year starts on St Matthew's Day, 21st September, when a service at the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great is followed by the Installation Dinner of the new Master at Mansion House or a livery hall. For the Lord Mayor's Show in November, the Company has entered a float on three occasions (2005, 2008 and 2013). In December we attend one of the carol services at St Bartholomew the Great and have supper together afterwards. In March we attend the United Guilds' Service at St Paul's Cathedral, after which we can take luncheon at a Livery hall. In February or March we hold a formal budget, or pre-budget, banquet, when our speaker is usually drawn from those senior in the tax world. Every year or so in June or July, we hold a Civic Luncheon at which The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs will be invited.

Our varied social programme includes visits, sporting occasions and social evenings including an annual City Walk. Each year a Master's Day is held with visits in recent years to a variety of locations including York, Hampstead Heath, Lichfield and Winchester, as well as overseas visits to Brussels, Bruges, Zurich and Liechtenstein. Reports of events appear in our newsletter The Owl and occasionally in Tax Adviser. The Company also has an affiliation with the Candlewick Ward Club.

Master and Wardens

A new Master and Wardens are elected each June and installed on or about St Matthew’s Day in September with a service in the Guild Church, the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield in the City of London.

City Base

The Company has a base at Information Technologists' Hall, 39A Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7JN. It is made available to us by the great kindness of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. Here we hold committee meetings, store our gowns, plate and mementos and display our Royal Charter.

Administration

Administrative services are now arranged through the Chartered Institute of Taxation who have been most supportive of the Company.