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Our History as Leading IR35 Experts

Bauer and Cottrell was founded in 2003 by one of the UK’s leading IR35 experts, Kate Cottrell.  After successful careers with the likes of a top accounting firm, and with HMRC as an Employer Compliance Manager, Kate decided to start her own business providing specialist IR35 expert services to contractors trying to navigate the recently introduced, complex tax legislation.  This was the beginning of an extraordinary journey in Kate becoming one of the UK’s most well-known and respected IR35 and off-payroll working rules specialists.

During her time as owner of B&C, Kate undertook numerous high-profile engagements within the industry which have been instrumental in the ongoing application of IR35.  These include being appointed by the Office of Tax Simplification as an IR35 expert  policy advisor, tasked with undertaking the review of IR35 and writing the report for the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, being a founder and serving member on HMRC’s IR35 Forum and being appointed to assist the House of Lords committee on the use of Personal Service Companies.

Kate was a much-loved “champion of contractors”, and over the years successfully defended countless contractors who were being misclassified by HMRC, saving them £hundreds of thousands in wrongly assessed tax and NIC.

Kate’s expertise, and that of her team of IR35 experts, has earned B&C the outstanding reputation and industry-leading status it enjoys today. Kate’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and her contributions have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of IR35 and the off-payroll working rules in the UK.

Kate Cottrell IR35 expert
Kate Cottrell, “IR35 Legend”
1955-2023

Bauer & Cottrell has a history of being staffed by former HMRC compliance officers, with first-hand experience in dealing with the IR35 legislation.  Established almost 20 years ago with a vision to redefine IR35 consultancy, we’ve grown into a respected industry leader known for our seasoned expertise, integrity, and unwavering professionalism.

Team of IR35 specialists smiling in a meeting

Charlie Hemsworth, our Tax Consultant Director and one of our key IR35 experts, joined Bauer & Cottrell in 2015. Charlie has over 20 years of experience in legal compliance in the contracting industry, beginning her career with various large accountancy service providers eventually undertaking the role of Senior Compliance Manager, with an emphasis and specialism in the IR35 rules and general employment status.

Charlie’s time at B&C has spanned many significant changes to the IR35 legislation, most recently the advent of the off-payroll working reforms in the public and private sectors.  She has played a pivotal role in shaping and adapting the popular services offered by B&C today. During her time with the company, Charlie has personally undertaken thousands of contract reviews and IR35 assessments and has defended and won many HMRC investigation cases, contributing to B&C’s impeccable 100% win track record.

Charlie is passionate about delivering a professional and dedicated customer experience which always includes a “personal touch”, and as a result enjoys great working relationships with all our clients.  This has been instrumental in our ability to retain an extremely loyal client base and high volumes of work through recommendation. In her own words, Charlie will always do a “proper job”!

Charlie Hemsworth IR35 specialist
Charlie Hemsworth, Director

Our Values

Expertise & Competence

Our team has a comprehensive understanding of the IR35 / off-payroll working rules, and we ensure we remain consistently up to date with all developments and changes, enabling us to provide fully dependable and credible services to our clients.

Honesty & Integrity

Our commitment to transparency, honesty, and our ethical approach is the foundation of our success. We believe in doing what's right, no matter how challenging. Our track record of time-tested trustworthiness demonstrates that our advice can always be wholly relied upon.

Professionalism

Delivering a professional service is extremely important to us and at the core of everything we do.  With our meticulous attention to detail, and track record of delivering an exceptional service, we consistently uphold the highest standards to ensure your complete satisfaction.

Staff Commitment

Our dedicated team has been with us for the long haul, reflecting our stability and commitment to nurturing talent.  Our low staff turnover means you'll always work with familiar faces who know your business inside and out.

Client-Focused

Focusing on clients' unique needs and offering tailored solutions to help them navigate IR35 compliance effectively, and empowering clients with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about IR35 compliance.

Impartiality

We ensure fairness, objectivity and the absence of bias in all services we provide, consistently upholding the highest ethical standards to deliver transparent and reliable outcomes.

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