Readers’ forum: How to deal with a wrongly claimed R&D payment

I have recently received a copy of a revised tax calculation for one of my clients showing a considerable repayment which I knew nothing about until he told me that he had been approached by an R&D adviser who had put in a claim on his behalf.

He had not seen any paperwork and had no idea what was in the claim. I know the client’s business well and am as certain as I can be that he is not carrying on anything which is even remotely connected to R&D. It also seems that the client has without really knowing what he has done mandated that the repayment and any future repayments are to go to the R&D adviser.

What do readers recommend that I do in these circumstances? Is the only option for me to advise the client to withdraw the claim –...