Tax Writers

James Bailey, MA (CANTAB) CTA

James is the Tax Partner at Robinson Reed Layton, the well-known Cornish accountancy firm. A Chartered Tax Adviser, he has a national reputation for his work on taxation issues, and regularly writes articles on tax planning for various journals and has appeared on TV and radio to talk about tax.

James is a former Inland Revenue Deputy District Inspector of a large London tax district, leading tax investigations into national companies and prominent individuals. On leaving the Inland Revenue, James worked with two of the 'Big Four' accounting firms, specialising in tax planning for family companies and wealthy individuals.

As well as helping accountants and solicitors with their clients' tax affairs, James also advises family businesses and wealthy individuals on tax planning, and offers help in dealing with tax investigations.

James is very keen on shooting, and says that training his gundogs makes a welcome contrast to dealing with HM Revenue and Customs officials. Though he lacks basic kitchen skills, his game cookery has been described as "inspired".

He enjoys reading, particularly crime novels and political thrillers, and is sure that one day he will finish the Daily Telegraph crossword in under ten minutes.

Arthur Weller, CTA

Arthur Weller is a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) who operates his own tax consultancy. He is known throughout the tax industry for his ability to resolve the most complex of tax issues and has over 10 years experience in this field.

Arthur works mainly in an advisory capacity for accountants, in all areas of taxation, and he runs a telephone helpline, giving phone advice on all areas of tax to accountants around the country.

Arthur is co-author of the guide 'How to Avoid Landlord Taxes', which is available through our sister website Property Tax Portal. He has also carried out over 500 telephone tax consultancies through this website.

Malcolm Finney, B.Sc M.Sc (Bus Admin) M.Sc (Org Psy) MCMI C Maths

Malcolm runs his own tax consultancy and training firm, Pythagoras Training.

Malcolm's previous experience has included working for the international finance and international tax consultancy J.F. Chown & Company Ltd (now Chown Dewhurst LLP); as partner and head of international tax at the international accountancy firm Grant Thornton LLP; and as head of tax at the London-based law firm Nabarro Nathanson.

Malcolm has written extensively on tax matters, has spoken at tax seminars both in the UK and abroad and has been a visiting lecturer at the University of Greenwich Business School.

Malcolm Gunn, CTA (Fellow)

Malcolm Gunn is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. He has over 40 years of experience in advising on UK tax matters.

For 16 years he was editor of the weekly magazine Taxation, which provides updating and technical advice on UK tax for accountants, solicitors and other tax practitioners throughout the UK. In 2004 he left the magazine to concentrate on consultancy and advisory work.

Malcolm Gunn continues to contribute frequently to technical publications on UK tax, including a chapter each year on tax planning in TaxLine Tax Planning published by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; and chapters each year in Tolley’s Tax Planning on Children’s Trusts and Trusts after the Finance Act 2006; Tolley’s Tax Planning is one of the leading works on tax planning available to the profession in the UK. He is also a frequent contributor to the magazine Taxation and also to other professional publications.

He presents seminars on current issues in UK taxation and has served on one of the committees of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Julie Butler, FCA

Julie Butler FCA founded the firm of Butler & Co in 1986 and currently has two offices in Hampshire with a dedicated and experienced team. 

She has built up an extensive knowledge of tax issues affecting high net worth individuals including farmers, landowners and those involved in equestrian activities.  Her articles are published in the national accountancy and tax press and she is the author of Tax Planning for Farm and Land Diversification (3rd edition to be published soon) and Equine Tax Planning.

Julie and her team carry out a large amount of consultancy work for other accountants and solicitors on farming diversification and bloodstock in areas of tax planning and complex tax enquiries.  Julie writes regularly in all the technical tax press and has a reputation for a fresh approach to subjects such as wind farms, bio-fuels, woodlands, furnished holiday lets and all farm property concerns in this current complicated economic climate.

Julie lectures regularly to a large variety of audiences from the CLT, CIOT, STEP and the rural community direct.

Andrew Needham, BA CTA

Andrew has a degree in Law from UCNW Bangor and is a Chartered Tax Adviser.  Andrew has over 20 years experience in VAT having spent 7 years in HM Customs & Excise, firstly as a VAT inspector, then as a departmental trainer, and finally in a headquarters policy unit dealing with the introduction of the EU single market.

After leaving Customs he joined Deloitte & Touche as a VAT consultant in Liverpool and then Manchester, where he qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser.  Andrew then moved to London where he worked on formulating indirect tax planning ideas, writing articles for tax publications, and was author of Deloitte’s Weekly VAT News.  From Deloitte’s, Andrew moved to Ernst & Young in Manchester as a senior indirect tax consultant, where he managed the indirect tax affairs of several multi-national companies. 

In 2001 Andrew left Ernst & Young to form VAT Solutions (UK) Limited with a co-Director.  In September 2009 Andrew formed his own VAT consultancy practise, VAT Specialists  Limited.

Andrew is VAT adviser to the Forum of Private Business and represents them quarterly on the Joint VAT Consultative Committee.