The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
HMRC claim reversals are a growing problem for small producers, with members reporting successful claims being demanded back months after payout, often after random selection for further checks. Here's what the community has experienced: **The problem:** - Claims are being reversed 12+ months after initial approval, with HMRC issuing minimal written justification (often one-liners like "Not qualifying") and providing no signed correspondence or named officer to engage with - Members have submitted extensive documentation (50+ pages in some cases) and still received blanket rejections - HMRC appears to target small businesses specifically because they lack resources to mount formal challenges or hire tax barristers - Hundreds to low thousands of small businesses are currently having reversals imposed **Recommended approach:** - **Document comprehensively**: Gather detailed records from producers, storage partners, and your own operations—members report HMRC requests information from the full supply chain, not just your own submission - **Prepare formal responses**: When challenged, submit written replies addressing each of HMRC's points explicitly, even if their feedback is vague - **Seek peer guidance**: Members share templates and documentation approaches via direct message; ask within the community for examples of successful rebuttals or WOGR (Wines, Spirits and Other Goods for Resale) clause submissions **Key caveat:** Correspondence is now unsigned and officers are unreachable, making it extremely difficult to escalate or discuss disputes directly. Small producers without tax representation are at a significant disadvantage. Members recommend connecting with others facing similar reversals to share strategies and evidence templates.