Trust and Estate work for Solicitors, by Carpenter Box

You do the law, we'll do the numbers

Trust and estate Work for SolicitorsOur Trust and Estate Service means that solicitors can concentrate on the areas of law that they excel at whilst handing over accounts and tax work to us on a subcontractor basis.

The advantages are numerous and include expert service, fast turnaround and low charges (typically our per hour rates can be up to 60% lower than a qualified solicitors rates).

Helping with Trusts

Trusts Administration

  • Preparation of trust account
  • Investment review & advice (via Carpenter Box Wealth Management LLP*)
  • Coordinate & plan distributions to beneficiaries
  • Handle bookkeeping assignments
  • Arrange banking requirements
  • Act as professional trustee
  • "Busting" a trust

Tax Compliance and Tax Planning

  • Set up trust with HMRC e.g. completing form 41G
  • Preparation & filing of SA900 tax returns & computations
  • Preparation of forms IHT100 & ancillary pages
  • Complex CGT calculations
  • IHT computations, forecasts & planning including: - exit & anniversary charges - asset valuation - APR/BPR
  • Provide a schedule of tax liabilities & a diary of important dates e.g. vesting dates, 10 year anniversary dates
  • Review tax assessments
  • Deal with HM Revenue & Customs enquiries
  • Preparation of forms R185 (Trust)
  • Beneficiaries tax compliance
  • Tax consultancy service

Helping with Probate

Probate Administration

  • Confirmation of the tax position at the date of death
  • Asset valuation, including business and share valuations
  • APR/BPR
  • Preparation of forms IHT400 and ancillary pages
  • IHT computations
  • Obtaining of tax clearances

Administration of Estates

  • Arrange for the final SA100 tax returns up to the date of death to be completed & submitted
  • Deal with tax compliance of period of administration, either through SA900 or informal procedures
  • Complex CGT calculations
  • Prepare estate accounts, interim and final
  • Provide a schedule of tax liabilities and timetable for payment
  • Review tax assessments
  • Deal with Revenue enquiries
  • Issue forms R185 (Estate)
  • Distribution tax planning
  • Legatees tax & financial planning (via Carpenter Box Wealth Management LLP*)
  • Assist in running or selling a business

How it all works:-


1. We meet with you to agree the work to be done and a delivery timetable.
2. We work for you on a sub-contract basis.
3. We can adopt your branding/logo on any accounts products if you would prefer.
4. We are instructed by you and will report back to you.
5. We will not communicate with HMRC or any third party without your specific instruction.
6. Engagements can relate to either an individual aspect of your client's affairs, or we can act as your tax department (and anything in-between).

Other Value Added Services for the legal sector from Carpenter Box

As well as the services you might expect we can help in other ways. Chris Coopey, one of our Directors, was previously a practising solicitor and Partner involved in the management of a large regional law firm. Chris is a member of the Law Society's Law Management Section. For some 7 years he specialised in Business Development, Law Firm Strategy and IT. He successfully took the firm through both the Lexcel and IIP process first time, moved them to a thin client IT environment and helped to professionalise their marketing effort so as you can guess, we offer a great deal more than just compliance services! We're here to help your firm to succeed as a business in a very competitive marketplace.

Stuart NoakesContact Stuart Noakes for an informal chat about how we can help.

Stuart heads up the Carpenter Box Tax Services Group and is a chartered accountant and a CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) with many years experience.

* Provided by Carpenter Box Wealth Management LLP, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.


Registered to carry on audit work and regulated for a range of investment business activities by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales