Blog
Counting the cost of the UK tax system
Waqar Shah
Waqar is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution department, focusing on the resolution of complex tax matters. He acts for high net worth individuals and corporate clients across all sectors in respect of HMRC disputes and investigations across the full range of taxes. This typically includes VAT disputes, employment tax matters (including 'IR35'/off-payroll working), customs/excise duty issues, tax fraud investigations, and more recently, National Minimum Wage enquiries.
Waqar is known for his commercial approach to matters involving HMRC and has a strong track record of helping clients settle without the need for a court or tribunal hearing, particularly through the effective use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (i.e. mediation) with HMRC. He also has considerable experience in judicial reviews and group litigation orders and has led high profile matters at all levels from the Tax Tribunal through to the Supreme Court (including referrals to the Court of Justice of the European Union).
Waqar has been regularly recognised in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as 'one to watch' and a 'rising star'. He was listed in AccountancyAge's '35 under 35' in 2019 and regularly contributes to Tax Journal, Taxation, and other similar publications. Waqar is also the annual webinar presenter of the key tax cases of the year for Lexis and an active member of the VAT Practitioners Group. Waqar is a qualified member of the Association of Tax Technicians (ATT).
WHAT CLIENTS AND THE DIRECTORIES SAY
Waqar is extremely knowledgeable and has been a pleasure to work with as he has made the process as pain-free as possible."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Waqar Shah is an extraordinary communicator. He balances a no-nonsense approach with commercial sense brilliantly."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
He is a rising star of tax litigation. He is clever, down to earth and focused on the needs of the client."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Waqar's deep expertise and understanding of the issues is coupled with a highly attentive and proactive approach that ensures critical issues are handled rapidly, effectively and with ease."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Waqar's knowledge of the process was a real standout, and he helped manage the risk and reward ratio in that sense."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Waqar Shah is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic tax litigation partners in the industry. He perfectly balances clear, thought out strategy with a direct, no-nonsense approach and could easily go toe-to-toe with silks. He knows just about everybody in the industry."
The Legal 500, 2025
Waqar Shah is a leader in the field, with vast experience and excellent business acumen."
The Legal 500, 2025
Waqar has extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with matters related to tax investigation and litigation."
The Legal 500, 2025
He is absolutely brilliant. He is a high-quality lawyer and he looks after his clients very well."
Chambers and Partners, Global Guide, 2024
He works well under tight deadlines and time pressures, and I was really happy with his levels of responsiveness."
Chambers and Partners, Global Guide, 2024
Waqar Shah is extremely knowledgeable and beyond tax litigation finds time to update clients on general tax compliance matters which may be of relevance, so there is a real value-added service."
The Legal 500, 2024
Waqar Shah is an outstanding advisor and tactician. He provides cool, calm and sophisticated insights into the issues facing his clients and then deals with those issues quickly and effectively. Waqar truly relieves clients of the burdens they carry and is the best advocate I have ever worked with."
The Legal 500, 2024
Waqar is my first port of call. His technical tax knowledge is excellent but what is most useful to me is his practical understanding of the issues and his ability to appreciate the wider commercial considerations too. I have had the pleasure of also instructing Waqar on wider tax and legal matters, some of which relates to different jurisdictions.”
A client 2023
PUBLICATIONS & PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
Articles
- Going to court is not the only tax dispute option, accountingweb, January 2025
- Why tax lawyers and accountants should be friends not foes, Accountancy Daily, March 2024
- The rise in inheritance tax investigations by HMRC, Today's Wills & Probate, February 2024
- Impact of artificial intelligence on tax disputes, Taxation, January 2024
- HMRC fines well-known employers over minimum wage breaches, CLH News, July 2023
- ADR meetings in tax disputes: trust the process or steer clear? Taxation, April 2023
- IR35: Here for the long haul? Solicitors Journal, March 2023
Quoted
- The £900m interest that HMRC made on late tax payments - Quoted in The Times, December 2024
- IR35 case worth £243,324 reconsidered five years after decision - Quoted in HR Magazine, April 2024
- Loan charge deadlock traps tens of thousands - Quoted in Financial Times, April 2024
- Quoted in relation to Rachel Reeve’s tax dodger plan in FT Adviser and Tax Journal - April 2024
- HMRC hitting businesses who fail to publish tax strategy with hefty fines - Quoted in City A.M., October 2023
- Quoted in relation to Gary Lineker's tax related dispute in Business Matters, HR magazine and EPrivateClient - March 2023
- Quoted in tax articles in Accountancy Age and Citywealth - March 2023
Professional societies and memberships and awards
-
Qualified member of the Association of Tax Technicians
-
Member of the VAT Practitioners Group
-
Listed as a Citywealth Leader in Tax
-
Best Lawyers 2024: One to Watch (Commercial Dispute Resolution)
-
Spear’s 500 – Tax Lawyers: “Top Recommended” 2023
-
The Legal 500, 2024 – Next Generation Partner
-
Chambers and Partners, UK 2024 - Up and Coming: Tax: Contentious
-
Chambers and Partners, Global Guide 2024 – Up and Coming : Tax: Contentious
