IR35 Compliance Audit:
Protecting your Business and preparing for HMRC challenges
HMRC Off-Payroll audits are on the rise. Ensuring Off-Payroll Working / IR35 compliance can be complex and time-consuming, but it’s crucial to protect your business from risk. If you manage Off-Payroll compliance in-house, our IR35 Compliance Audit service provides a thorough review of your current processes, identifying gaps and offering clear, practical solutions that make compliance with the Off-Payroll Working rules much easier to manage.
Whether you’re preparing for an HMRC audit, newly coming into scope of the rules, or simply want peace of mind, our IR35 Compliance Audit service ensures you are fully prepared for any Off-Payroll Working challenges and meet your ‘reasonable care’ obligations.

What is covered in our IR35 Compliance Audit?
Our audit covers every aspect of Off-Payroll Working / IR35 compliance, mirroring the key areas HMRC would look at in their own audit.
Initial Consultation
We’ll discuss your current IR35 processes, concerns, and goals before gathering all necessary information via our easy-to-use forms.
Review of Processes
We assess engagement methods, onboarding procedures, how you determine and communicate status decisions, dispute resolution procedures, and how you manage reassessments to establish your IR35 compliance framework.
Documentation & Record-Keeping
A detailed assessment of Status Determination Statements, communications with contractual parties, standard contracts, letters and templates, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and accessibility of records.
Supply Chain Due Diligence
We look at whether you engage in contracted-out services and assess how you identify and establish responsibilities within your supply chain.
Risk Identification
A detailed analysis to pinpoint gaps in your current processes, highlight areas needing improvement, and flag potential compliance risks before they lead to costly disputes or penalties.
Practical Recommendations
A tailored, comprehensive report covering recommendations to strengthen your Off-Payroll compliance framework. This includes identifying missing elements, streamlining processes, improving documentation practices, and providing template documentation where necessary, along with support with implementation.
The key benefits of an
independent IR35 Compliance Audit
Expert-led compliance review: With over 20 years of hands-on experience in IR35 and the Off-Payroll Working rules, we bring deep expertise to ensure you are fully compliant and well-prepared.
Risk reduction and HMRC audit readiness: By proactively addressing compliance gaps, you significantly reduce the risk of HMRC challenges, penalties, and costly disputes.
Confidence for your business & staff: Our audit equips your internal teams with the knowledge, processes, and tools to handle IR35 compliance confidently.
Clear evidence of ‘reasonable care’: Our in-depth audit report provides documented proof of your compliance efforts, strengthening your position in any HMRC review.
More efficient, streamlined processes: We help simplify your IR35 compliance procedures, ensuring they are practical, manageable, and don’t disrupt your daily operations.
Clear, no-nonsense guidance: We translate the complex rules into straightforward, actionable advice so you can focus on running your business with confidence.
Why B&C? We make it easy

- Unrivalled expertise – we are trusted IR35 specialists with a long track record of advising businesses of all sizes across multiple sectors.
- Proven success in HMRC disputes – we have helped countless businesses and contractors successfully challenge HMRC investigations.
- Comprehensive, hands-on support – we don’t just identify issues; we provide the guidance and tools needed to resolve them, ensuring compliance without unnecessary stress.
- We care – we genuinely care about your business and take the time to understand your unique situation and provide tailored, practical advice rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Bauer & Cottrell is one of the UK’s leading IR35 experts, with over 20 years hands-on experience of the rules. Take the first step towards IR35 compliance and peace of mind for your business.
Read more about our history and what makes us stand out from the rest.
What our clients say...
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"I have always been extremely happy with the service you provide both on a professional level and a personal level, so wanted to say a genuine thank you for reviewing all my contracts over the years and all the additional advice you have provided."
Jeremy Fletcher Black Diamond Consulting LtdRead more -
“I engaged Charlie to assess my contract prior to starting at a new client. Charlie was fantastic throughout the process. She demonstrated deep understanding of the relevant legislation and always responded promptly and professionally. As an independent expert her advice and opinion were well received by the end client, who provided an outside status determination. With Charlies input, the end client could demonstrate reasonable care had been taken – a win-win for both parties! I cannot recommend Charlie highly enough."
Tony Ward Statcore LtdRead more -
“I’ve used Bauer & Cottrell for several years and wholeheartedly recommend them to everyone that I work with. They’ve successfully negotiated a whole range of adverse and risky terms out of contracts on my behalf, far more effectively than I could’ve by dealing with the relevant agents myself, and taught me more about the practical side of successfully engaging with clients (outside) of IR35 than any other source of information. Their Contractor Guardian Plus service provides me with the complete peace of mind that I don’t believe is otherwise readily achievable within the means of an independent contractor.”
Adam Williamson Network Guy Consultancy LtdRead more -
“Thank you so much for your really prompt, efficient and calm approach in negotiating changes to the proposed contract with my client, to ensure it correctly reflected working practices. You made the whole process seem so straightforward and Bauer and Cottrell’s reputation provides well deserved reassurance that it’s been done properly.”
Stephen Penfold MTwenty International LtdRead more -
“The Bauer & Cottrell IR35 Review Package I receive through my accountant has been extremely good value and most importantly how/why the review is done; so it is done correctly, thoroughly and the determination is accurate, in line with current legislation. I have been continually recommending Bauer and Cottrell/this approach to my peers. Even now, where the client is responsible for making the determination, Bauer and Cottrell review all the paperwork and examine the actual working practices, to ensure this has been done correctly. Additionally, when checking the supporting paperwork, Bauer and Cottrell have ensured this accurately reflects the determination and actual working practices. With your help we have the right outcome done properly, which for a recent review, the client very much appreciates being able to retain me for a time sensitive/important project and we know that we are compliant. IR35 determination is complex and often misunderstood. Bauer & Cottrell’s expertise and experience ensure a correctly determined outcome.”
Peter IT Contractor, bankingRead more -
“As someone new to contracting and the complexities of the IR35 regulations, I engaged Bauer & Cottrell Ltd to advise me on an agency contract. Throughout the entire engagement their friendly and professional team were a joy to work with. Their specialist consultant (Charlie) was extremely knowledgeable, responding swiftly to all my questions, and quickly negotiated a compliant contract with the agency on my behalf. I’ve since engaged them again for a subsequent contract and experienced the same fantastic and timely service. I would not hesitate to recommend their services to others in a similar position.”
Ben Moss Kaizen Path Consulting LtdRead more -
“I had to consult with Bauer & Cottrell regarding the IR35 status of one of my contracts, and the service they provided was immaculate, with super fast responses, and full support, including assessment, contract templates, and many revisions until the contract was as watertight as it gets. To top it all, the service was pleasantly friendly. I would highly recommend them for anything IR35 related.”
Haitham Seelawi Eva-Ayla Seelawi ML LtdRead more -
You have all been a pleasure to deal with, and extremely helpful and I look forward to dealing with your company again in the future.” “I have nothing but good words to say about you and the team.
Shaun Deeney SD Testing Services LtdRead more
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