Tax Planning
Personal and corporate tax planning — high worth, low tax solutions
Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants helps successful business owners and high-worth individuals keep more of what they earn — across income tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, and capital gains tax. Always compliant with the letter and spirit of the law.
What we do
A complete tax planning service, built around your position
Many of our clients are business owners who have built significant personal wealth alongside their companies. Their tax affairs don't fit a single box — and neither does our advice.
We cover the full range of personal and corporate tax exposures: income tax across multiple sources, inheritance tax planning for estates and family wealth, corporation tax structuring, and capital gains tax on disposals, share sales, and property transactions.
Every plan we produce is fully compliant — we find legitimate solutions, not aggressive schemes. Our aim is to minimise your liability within the law, not to create risk.
R&D tax credits are a distinct specialism at Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants, led by Dean Ackrill. If your business invests in innovation, see our dedicated R&D claims page for how we approach that work.
Areas covered
Four tax disciplines, one joined-up plan
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01
Income tax
Multiple income streams — employment, dividends, rental, investment — require careful sequencing. We model the most efficient draw-down structure for your circumstances.
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02
Inheritance tax
Estate planning, gifting strategies, and business property relief — we help you pass wealth to the next generation without an avoidable IHT bill.
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03
Corporation tax
From profit extraction to group structuring, we ensure your company's tax position is as efficient as the law allows — with full compliance at every step.
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04
Capital gains tax
Timing, reliefs, and structuring matter enormously on disposals. We advise on business asset disposal relief, rollover relief, and the sequencing of sales to reduce CGT exposure.
The team
Specialist expertise, built over decades in Tamworth and Uttoxeter
Tax planning at Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants is led by partners who have spent their entire careers in this discipline — not generalists who cover tax alongside everything else. We serve clients from our offices in Tamworth and Uttoxeter.
John Clark FCA, FCCA
Partner — Tax Planning
John joined Philip Barnes & Co at 16, qualified in 1998, and became a full partner in 2004 after more than a decade of mentorship under the firm's founder. He specialises in tax planning for high-wealth individuals and businesses — and over his career at the firm he has saved clients £millions through legitimate, commercially astute solutions. Clients regularly use John as a trusted adviser on major financial decisions.
Chris Humphreys FCA
Partner — Tax Planning & Audit
Chris began his career at a top-twenty accountancy firm, gaining early experience in auditing, acquisitions, and corporate finance. He joined Philip Barnes & Co in 1987 and became a partner in 1990 at the age of 31. His specialisms are tax planning and auditing, and his commercial depth means he can engage with every aspect of a client's business — not just the numbers.
Dean Ackrill FCCA
Chartered Accountant — R&D Tax Credits & New Business
Dean spent 13 years in practice helping SMEs grow before moving into industry as Financial Director of a telecoms firm — a role in which he managed multi-million pound savings across growth, restructure, and austerity cycles. In 2002, the telecoms firm where Dean served as Financial Director was recognised as one of Deloitte's Top 50 Fastest Growing Businesses. He joined Philip Barnes & Co to lead on R&D tax credits and new business development. See our R&D claims service →
Our approach
"He thrives on finding legitimate solutions to minimise tax — and he has saved his clients £millions during his career at Philip Barnes & Co."
— From John Clark's partner profile, Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants
How it works
From first conversation to ongoing tax efficiency
Initial consultation
We start with a conversation at no charge. Tell us about your income sources, business structure, and what you're trying to achieve. We'll tell you honestly where we can add value.
Review your current position
We examine your existing tax affairs across all relevant heads — income tax, corporation tax, CGT, and IHT — and identify where legitimate savings are being missed.
A joined-up tax plan
We produce a clear plan covering the sequencing of income, profit extraction, reliefs to claim, and any restructuring that would improve your position — all fully compliant.
Ongoing partnership
Tax planning isn't a one-off exercise. We review your position as your business and personal circumstances evolve — at year-end, on major transactions, and whenever you need a trusted second opinion.
Ready to pay less tax — legitimately?
Speak with John Clark or Chris Humphreys about your tax position. Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants acts for high-worth individuals and business owners across Staffordshire and beyond, with offices in Tamworth (01827 60033) and Uttoxeter (01889 563550).