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17 January 2001
The Company of Tax Advisers
John Jeffrey-Cook, FTII, FCA, FCIS, ATT, Clerk to the latest Guild to be recognised as a City Company, explains its background.
The Company of Tax Advisers was established as a Guild in December 1995 by some leading members of The Chartered Institute of Taxation to meet three primary objectives:
to enhance the recognition and reputation of the profession of tax advisers within the City of London and to ultimately seek recognition as a City Livery Company;
to support a range of charities; and
John Jeffrey-Cook, FTII, FCA, FCIS, ATT, Clerk to the latest Guild to be recognised as a City Company, explains its background.
The Company of Tax Advisers was established as a Guild in December 1995 by some leading members of The Chartered Institute of Taxation to meet three primary objectives:
to enhance the recognition and reputation of the profession of tax advisers within the City of London and to ultimately seek recognition as a City Livery Company;
to support a range of charities; and
The Company of Tax Advisers
John Jeffrey-Cook, FTII, FCA, FCIS, ATT, Clerk to the latest Guild to be recognised as a City Company, explains its background.
The Company of Tax Advisers was established as a Guild in December 1995 by some leading members of The Chartered Institute of Taxation to meet three primary objectives:
to enhance the recognition and reputation of the profession of tax advisers within the City of London and to ultimately seek recognition as a City Livery Company;
to support a range of charities; and
to provide for fellowship between tax advisers.
As was briefly reported in the Update section of last week's issue of Taxation, on 12 December 2000, within five years of its founding, the Guild was recognised by the Court of Aldermen who constituted it a City Company without Livery.
The Company is managed by a Court of Assistants, presided over by the Master who is supported by the Upper, Middle and Renter Wardens, all serving one-year terms. The detailed administration is undertaken by the Clerk with a Treasurer co-ordinating finances.
City Livery Companies
As indicated, one of the objectives of the Company is ultimately to seek Livery Company status within the City of London. This involves three stages; first formation of a Guild (in 1995), then recognition as a City Company (in 2000) and finally the grant of Livery. This progression, which is under the control of the Court of Aldermen of the City, always takes a number of years.
City Guilds or Companies have flourished in many European cities since at least the Middle Ages. Most Continental Guilds were destroyed by Napoleon so the most developed Guild structure today is in the City of London where from the 12th century onwards Guilds played an important role in setting standards for the crafts they represented. They also set standards for the training of apprentices and supported charitable activities, included among which has been the establishment of several famous schools. Most of the ancient Guilds were incorporated by Royal Charter. On nearly all the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen have conferred Livery status, which is reflected in the distinctive and colourful robes which at one time were worn by all Freemen of the Company but are now normally only worn by the Masters, Wardens and Clerks.
Individuals, male or female, who are Freemen of a City Company can by presentation to the Court of the City Chamberlain receive the Freedom of the City of London. In ancient times a person had to be 'free of the City' to carry on trade or business in the City. If the Company is a Livery Company it may then 'clothe him with the Livery' and the main privilege of a Liveryman is to vote 'in Common Hall assembled' at Guildhall in the election of the two Sheriffs on 24 June and the Lord Mayor on 29 September.
Today there are 102 Livery Companies, plus a handful (such as the Tax Advisers) of Companies without Livery. They broadly fall into four categories:
the rich older companies, including the 'Great Twelve', who have substantial charitable and general funds and properties;
other older companies with long histories who now have modest endowments;
trade and profession-related older companies which are still engaged in the regulation of their trade or profession even to the point of having trade apprentices and setting examinations; and
newer companies whose Freemen generally have to exercise the relevant craft or profession; many have one or more parallel professional or trade bodies.
There are 77 older companies which started before 1710 although some received Livery later; none were started for 200 years and there are now 25 newer Livery Companies started since 1909 (18 since 1975).
About forty of the wealthier Livery Companies have 'Halls' within the City from which they conduct their affairs. Most of these are available on hire for functions held by City Companies without Halls and others.
Activities of the Company
The City base for the Company of Tax Advisers is Founders' Hall. The Company has established many links with the City and has visited many Livery Halls for its dinners and other functions which it conducts as part of an active social programme. This includes attendance at the annual United Guilds' Service in St Paul's Cathedral and seats at the Lord Mayor's Show. The Company also manages, through trustees, two charitable funds; one for the relief of necessitous tax advisers and their dependants and the other for general charitable purposes.
Membership requirements
Initially membership was available only to Chartered Tax Advisers. However, having established a core membership base of 100, membership has been extended to all who are engaged in tax practice or tax administration, provided that they are suitably qualified within criteria established by the Court of Assistants. The individual applicant must also be eligible, and prepared, to swear the relevant Oath required to become a Freeman of the City of London. This no longer requires that the individual must be a British subject and membership is therefore open to non-British tax advisers who have sufficient interest in the City of London.
Applications for membership ('Freedom') are reviewed by a Membership Committee. A sponsor is required and an interview is usually undertaken by a member of the Membership Committee. Once membership has been approved the applicant is invited to an induction at which he or she is welcomed into the Company upon swearing the Oath of Admission and signing the Freemen's Roll.
The applicant is required to pay an entry fee (termed a 'fine') and an annual subscription ('quarterage') and also to undertake to support the charitable funds of the Company. Freemen of the Company may, with Company support, seek the Freedom of the City of London. If and when the Company is eventually granted Livery status, Freemen of the Company who have the Freedom of the City may be advanced to Liverymen.
Membership is open to all who are or were engaged in tax practice or tax administration and are suitably qualified. Tax advisers who would like details about the Company are invited to contact the Assistant Clerk, Jonathan Crump, at The Chartered Institute of Taxation, 12 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1X 8BB, tel: 020 7235 9381.
John Jeffrey-Cook, FTII, FCA, FCIS, ATT, Clerk to the latest Guild to be recognised as a City Company, explains its background.
The Company of Tax Advisers was established as a Guild in December 1995 by some leading members of The Chartered Institute of Taxation to meet three primary objectives:
to enhance the recognition and reputation of the profession of tax advisers within the City of London and to ultimately seek recognition as a City Livery Company;
to support a range of charities; and
to provide for fellowship between tax advisers.
As was briefly reported in the Update section of last week's issue of Taxation, on 12 December 2000, within five years of its founding, the Guild was recognised by the Court of Aldermen who constituted it a City Company without Livery.
The Company is managed by a Court of Assistants, presided over by the Master who is supported by the Upper, Middle and Renter Wardens, all serving one-year terms. The detailed administration is undertaken by the Clerk with a Treasurer co-ordinating finances.
City Livery Companies
As indicated, one of the objectives of the Company is ultimately to seek Livery Company status within the City of London. This involves three stages; first formation of a Guild (in 1995), then recognition as a City Company (in 2000) and finally the grant of Livery. This progression, which is under the control of the Court of Aldermen of the City, always takes a number of years.
City Guilds or Companies have flourished in many European cities since at least the Middle Ages. Most Continental Guilds were destroyed by Napoleon so the most developed Guild structure today is in the City of London where from the 12th century onwards Guilds played an important role in setting standards for the crafts they represented. They also set standards for the training of apprentices and supported charitable activities, included among which has been the establishment of several famous schools. Most of the ancient Guilds were incorporated by Royal Charter. On nearly all the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen have conferred Livery status, which is reflected in the distinctive and colourful robes which at one time were worn by all Freemen of the Company but are now normally only worn by the Masters, Wardens and Clerks.
Individuals, male or female, who are Freemen of a City Company can by presentation to the Court of the City Chamberlain receive the Freedom of the City of London. In ancient times a person had to be 'free of the City' to carry on trade or business in the City. If the Company is a Livery Company it may then 'clothe him with the Livery' and the main privilege of a Liveryman is to vote 'in Common Hall assembled' at Guildhall in the election of the two Sheriffs on 24 June and the Lord Mayor on 29 September.
Today there are 102 Livery Companies, plus a handful (such as the Tax Advisers) of Companies without Livery. They broadly fall into four categories:
the rich older companies, including the 'Great Twelve', who have substantial charitable and general funds and properties;
other older companies with long histories who now have modest endowments;
trade and profession-related older companies which are still engaged in the regulation of their trade or profession even to the point of having trade apprentices and setting examinations; and
newer companies whose Freemen generally have to exercise the relevant craft or profession; many have one or more parallel professional or trade bodies.
There are 77 older companies which started before 1710 although some received Livery later; none were started for 200 years and there are now 25 newer Livery Companies started since 1909 (18 since 1975).
About forty of the wealthier Livery Companies have 'Halls' within the City from which they conduct their affairs. Most of these are available on hire for functions held by City Companies without Halls and others.
Activities of the Company
The City base for the Company of Tax Advisers is Founders' Hall. The Company has established many links with the City and has visited many Livery Halls for its dinners and other functions which it conducts as part of an active social programme. This includes attendance at the annual United Guilds' Service in St Paul's Cathedral and seats at the Lord Mayor's Show. The Company also manages, through trustees, two charitable funds; one for the relief of necessitous tax advisers and their dependants and the other for general charitable purposes.
Membership requirements
Initially membership was available only to Chartered Tax Advisers. However, having established a core membership base of 100, membership has been extended to all who are engaged in tax practice or tax administration, provided that they are suitably qualified within criteria established by the Court of Assistants. The individual applicant must also be eligible, and prepared, to swear the relevant Oath required to become a Freeman of the City of London. This no longer requires that the individual must be a British subject and membership is therefore open to non-British tax advisers who have sufficient interest in the City of London.
Applications for membership ('Freedom') are reviewed by a Membership Committee. A sponsor is required and an interview is usually undertaken by a member of the Membership Committee. Once membership has been approved the applicant is invited to an induction at which he or she is welcomed into the Company upon swearing the Oath of Admission and signing the Freemen's Roll.
The applicant is required to pay an entry fee (termed a 'fine') and an annual subscription ('quarterage') and also to undertake to support the charitable funds of the Company. Freemen of the Company may, with Company support, seek the Freedom of the City of London. If and when the Company is eventually granted Livery status, Freemen of the Company who have the Freedom of the City may be advanced to Liverymen.
Membership is open to all who are or were engaged in tax practice or tax administration and are suitably qualified. Tax advisers who would like details about the Company are invited to contact the Assistant Clerk, Jonathan Crump, at The Chartered Institute of Taxation, 12 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1X 8BB, tel: 020 7235 9381.
