Ian Smethurst

Tax Partner, Bolton

Ian Smethurst Ian qualified as a chartered accountant in 1984 and has specialised in tax ever since. He started his tax career with Andersen, before moving to a provincial firm in the late 1980s. Since then, Ian has specialised in looking after the tax affairs of owner managed businesses and high net worth individuals.

Ian works very closely with the firms financial services companies, as pensions, life insurance and tax efficient investment are vital to many of the tax planning strategies that are implemented for clients.

The main emphasis of Ian's work is forward planning. It is vital to obtain a clear understanding of the client's objectives, and then to suggest alternative ways of structuring a transaction to mitigate any potential tax liabilities.

The variety of work is what appeals to Ian, whether it be advising on the sale of a business, the reorganisation of a group of companies, or dealing with a family's private wealth. But most importantly, regular meetings with clients are essential to get to know the client and to work with them over the years to help them achieve their goals in life.

To read Ian's article on restricted tax relief on pension contributions follow this link.

E-mail: ismethurst@clbcoopers.co.uk

Tel: 01204 551100