I would like to express my thanks again to Fred Butler and his team for the valuable support they have given me as an executor of an Estate contain a number of different assets, the result of which is we have needed detailed tax advice across the full range of taxes namely income tax, capital gains tax and Inheritance Tax. The advice has been both specific and formal where it has been possible to draw conclusions in an unequivocal way but often where this is not in point we have received practical and helpful commentary on matters that do require decisions to be made but the precise approach is tough to lay down. In this regard the Fred has been able to set out our options and so that the final way forward was clearly defined with all the relevant risks assessed.
It is likely in my estimation that Butler & Co has been providing a very high level of service through a generation of its existence.
I say this because that last time I had the benefit of the firm's advice was some 20 years ago in the early 2000s when Fred's Mother Julie Butler gave me absolutely crucial support over a difficult matter involving an Irish UK resident taxpayer who had an Irish domicile and extensive stallion covering fees arising from a Stud in Ireland.
A flawed attempt to use a discretionary trust had landed my client in a lot of trouble with the Special Office of HMRC in Bootle the result of which was that all the fees were exposed to tax in the UK.
Julie did a detailed review of precisely how the fees arose and especially how the stallion had retired from racing and had become a thoroughbred in this stud. She was able to show me how much of the activity could be properly presented within a trading structure and by using the statements of practice, how stallions carrying out these activities can be amortised as trading stock.
Once this was established we were able to create trading losses that could be utilised against the stallion fee income. I was very impressed by the work Julie did for me and that it was argued in an open and transparent manner as far as HMRC was concerned so that the result could not be challenged further down the line.
So in conclusion through my two experiences some 20 years apart I would have expected that Butler &Co has been providing this sort of cutting edge advice and support over a very long period.
We understand that Helen has quickly fitted into her new role. Accounts and auditing is an art to a certain extent, and we believe with her valued FMAAT and FCCA qualifications, proactive approach and people skills she did a fantastic job, and the sky is the only limit.
The complexities of the accounts relating to the sale of my parents’ estate and the subsequent division and distribution of the related inheritance to myself and my three siblings, plus the relevant calculations and explanations of all IHT, CGT, income tax and other more general issues, was done so professionally, diligently and sympathetically by Angela and the team at Butler & Co that I cannot recommend them highly enough.
My family's home of 65 years was sold recently after our parents died; Angela Evans at Butler & co has been a constant source of advice and help throughout the 18 month journey which began after our Mother died in March 2020 until the Estate Accounts were finalised in October 2021.
I have known Angela for over 20 years and it was of such comfort to know that after all these years Angela was able to combine our friendship with her professional service as we threaded our way through the complications that unfolded. Trust is essential when it comes to such an ordeal as ours, and throughout this time, I have felt that Angela was totally trustworthy and had our best interests at heart.
If opportunities for referrals arise, I will be happy to send business to Butler & co.
I’d like to take the opportunity of thanking you and your colleagues for the excellent service you have provided, guiding and helping us through what we thought would be a harrowing experience you have made it as easy and pleasurable as it could be. We’re very pleased with the timing you’ve achieved in all of this. When the solicitor first informed us that we would have to make the return within 30 days, our initial reaction was, “Wow! We’ll never manage that!” We were delighted with the speed and efficiency that you and your colleagues dealt with our CGT matters.
Once again, many thanks.
What an excellent service I received from Butler & Co. Having a tax problem to deal with in a very short time, they were recommended to me and I couldn’t be more grateful for all their help. The team I dealt with were so helpful, courteous and friendly. I was treated with the utmost respect from beginning to end with excellent service - even to the extent of replying to my emails in out of work hours. I can thoroughly recommend this firm.
I am very pleased to receive that news. A testament to your team's expertise on the handling of this matter. I am ordinarily an anxious person but your reassurance has enabled me to remain calm from the outset and makes me feel glad that I, not only chose to declare all cryptocurrency trading activities, but more importantly that I sought your services to guide me through. I have been an avid promoter of your services at any given chance when replying to forum requests from people asking where and how to go about treating cryptocurrency tax affairs.
We were faced with a difficult situation, and knew we needed to change accountants, but we didn’t know where to start.
We then found Butler & Co on the internet, and we need not have worried. From the initial phone call and speaking to Laurence on reception, to the first meeting with Russell, Fred and Jenny we knew we had made the right decision. We were greeted with a smile and a cup of tea. They have all been brilliant. Always having time to listen to our questions and then their immense experience to be able to answer them in a positive and productive way. They have given us so much expert advice and help we now feel we are back in control of our business.
The whole team have been fantastic. We cannot recommend them highly enough.
Thank you.
Butler & Co have provided the executive team and the MGAA Board with support and advice since the formation of the association in 2011.
Individually we have greatly benefited from the help and assistance we have received from Russell Nash in relation to our migration to Xero and Stacey Parkinson in relation to our payroll
The service we have received has been very cost effective and efficient and no request being too small.
We look forward to working with Butler & Co in the future.
I have been dealing with Butler and Co for the past three years for a mutual client. The case was complicated and needed professional guidance from an Accountancy perspective. It was an Equine based business and needed specialist help and understanding.
It was also at a time of huge grief for the client, as a close relative had passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly, which triggered the need for their help. They were very understanding and supportive of the situation.
Butlers provided excellent advice and a first class service. Nothing was too much trouble and they were available whenever you needed to contact them. Fred Butler travelled a great distance to come and visit the premises which enabled him and the Company to have a greater understanding and see first-hand the business.
They processed everything with the HMRC and made the whole experience less stressful for the client.
They were incredibly supportive, helpful and very professional in all matters which led to a successful HMRC claim for Business Property Relief.
I would not hesitate to recommend this Company, and would always use them in the future.
I would like to say how much Fred Butler helped me with advice on my mothers property this week. His knowledge and professional methods are outstanding.
The whole team is knowledgeable, helpful and professional and it was so useful to be able to have such expertise, but still maintain a personal understanding of my circumstances and business - there was always someone who was in touch with my account available to ask questions when I needed it and your knowledge, help and advice have been invaluable.
We were newly arrived from Denmark and had just commenced business at our recently acquired equine establishment in East Sussex. We were daunted by the hugely complicated VAT rules applicable to such businesses. After several attempts to obtain advice, we found that this is a specialist area and not that many professionals are totally knowledgeable. Finally, we were introduced to Butler & Co. A partner visited the premises, explained very clearly what had to be done, registered us and took care of all the filings. We have received excellent service.
Today's course in the Ivy Bush in Carmarthen has been one of the best tax courses I have been on since I qualified as a CTA in 1999. It was very interesting and informative. It was a good mix (I felt) of solicitors and accountants there today. Thank you for today and look forward to seeing you on more courses in the future.
I have had over 15 years of a happy partnership with Butler & Co. A very friendly and caring firm who will answer your queries however small and still make you feel good about it all. Highly recommended.
Engaging, extremely knowledgeable, very impressive
Dear Julie,
I am writing as I would like to say how impressed I am with the help and advice I have received since joining your firm some 12 months ago.
Other than of course yourself I have found Lucy and Stacey especially helpful.
I really enjoy working with you all and feel a massive benefit for being with you. I love the ease in which I can communicate with you and the no nonsense but informative replies I receive!! So...thank you!
I have been using Butler & Co to produce my accounts since I started my own business seven years ago, and their service has been generally efficient and helpful. Andy Case has been my personal contact throughout and I value his advice.
Butler & Co have managed my accounts continuously since first setting up my business in 1997 - initially as sole trader, then incorporating in 2004.
They are a highly professional local service provider, flexible, innovative, responsive and friendly to deal with, and to my mind an essential part of ensuring my operations continue to remain on track.
We have been absolutely delighted with the service we have received from Butler & Co over the past 4 years during the setup and operation of our small limited company. They are amazingly responsive to any requests or questions, they give great pragmatic and helpful advice about accountancy and tax issues, and they produce accurate and timely accounts and company/personal tax returns. We thoroughly recommend them to any small business owner.
We need our accounts to be accurate and on time, along with professional and caring advice. Andy at Butler and Co always delivers and we congratulate him and his colleagues for being at the forefront of business life in Alresford for the last 20 years. Long may it continue.
We initially set up our new company only 3 years ago, and Butler & Co (Andy Case in particular) gave us significant help as we did this. We had not done this before ourselves and we were given excellent support and advice from Andy right from the start. I am sure that we would either have taken a lot longer to achieve this without such expert help and advice, or perhaps we might not have even succeeded without such comprehensive and professional support.
Nothing is ever too much trouble for Andy. He has always been there to give us friendly, down-to-earth guidance and support, and he always demonstrates great patience, even when sometimes he had to explain things to us more than once as we were new to many of the business and accounting concepts!
Since that time, Butler & Co have managed our accounts very effectively. We highly recommend Butler & Co, and Andy Case.
At Parkfield Breeding we have been working with Lucy from Butler & Co for a few years. The service and advice provided is timely, specialist and clear. The whole team are professional and friendly.