The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers

HOW TO ADVANCE IN THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF TAX ADVISERS

All Freemen of the Company are encouraged to seek advancement to become Liverymen – having first been granted the Freedom of the City of London (How to join a Livery Company - Livery Committee).

HOW TO OBTAIN FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LONDON

Once admitted as a Freeman of the Company, an individual is entitled to apply for Freedom of the City. The form can be found here: City of London Freedom Form. Most of the ancient privileges associated with City Freedom no longer apply, though driving sheep over London Bridge still does, and holding the Freedom remains much sought after. It is an essential prerequisite to becoming a Liveryman of any City Livery Company.

Obtaining Freedom of the City is a matter for the City of London Corporation and not the Company per se. Applications are made online, directly to the City of London, and a Freedom Fee or ‘fine’ (£170, as at 2023) is paid by BACs transfer. For further information see the following link: Applying-for-the-Freedom-of-the-City-CoA-info-April-2023.

City of London Freedom Application Form

The form should be accompanied by copies of the following documents:

• Your full birth certificate (it must be the long form certificate, the short form certificate cannot be accepted) or adoption certificate
• Your Livery Company Freedom Certificate.

You will need to send copies of the following, if they apply to you:

• A copy of change of name deed, valid passport, driving licence or similar evidence of change of name - if you are using names other than shown on your birth, adoption or marriage certificates.
• A copy of a marriage or divorce certificate – if you are not using your maiden name
• A copy of a naturalisation certificate.

The Freedom Ceremony

An application will be presented for approval at the next meeting of the Court of Aldermen, which occur at roughly six to seven week intervals.

Applicants are advised personally of the outcome of their application. If successful, they should then telephone the Court office to arrange attendance at the Chamberlain’s Court for a formal swearing-in ceremony.

From time to time, the Company invites members who are applying for their Freedom of the City to participate in a Company Group ceremony, along with other Freemen of the Company. The Master or his representative(s) are also likely to attend. A Company Group ceremony is especially popular amongst members wishing to advance to become Liverymen of the Company on the same day (as described below).

Whether conducted individually, or as part of a Company Group, those obtaining their Freedom of the City may invite guests to the short ceremony at the Guildhall. They are also encouraged to notify their original sponsor (see How to Join, above) who may wish to attend.

Once a Freeman of the Company has obtained Freedom of the City, they can advance to become a Liveryman of the Company. There is no minimum qualifying period, as a Freeman of the Company for either Freedom of the City, or Livery.

HOW TO BECOME A LIVERYMAN OF THE COMPANY

A Freeman of the Company may apply to become a Liveryman of the Company from the moment they have been informed of the date on which the Court of Aldermen will consider their application to become Free of the City of London. They need not wait for approval from the Court of Chamberlain, nor the granting of Freedom of the City, itself.

Membership applications may be submitted at any time. Those submitted by the 15th of January, March, June, or October in any year will be considered for approval by the Court of Assistants at meetings usually held in March, June, September, and December each year. The intervening period allows for preliminary consideration by the Membership Committee, at one of its periodic meetings.

Those approved to become a Liveryman of the Company are required to attend a Court meeting to be so advanced.

A Freeman of the Company, who has been approved for Freedom of the City, may choose to attend a City Freedom ceremony in the morning and then advance to Livery of the Company at a Court Meeting in the afternoon, on the same day. This is only feasible on days when the Court has a meeting in the afternoon – in March, September, and December each year. Anyone interested in doing so should contact the Clerk in the first instance.

If you would like to apply to advance to Livery, please complete the following form: Livery Application Form.

On completion, the form should be emailed to the Clerk, at: [email protected]

Financial Commitments

The financial commitments associated with being a Liveryman of the Company, in addition to those associated with membership itself, are as follows (as at July 2023):

Advancement fee (payable on the day of the Court meeting at which an individual is admitted to the Livery): £250

Charitable Donations

Reflecting the Company’s underlying ethos, expressed in its motto of ‘Truth, Fellowship, Charity’, Liverymen of the Company are required to donate regularly – ideally by way of standing order – to one, or both, of the Company’s charities: Tax Advisers’ Benevolent Fund (TABF) and Tax Advisers’ Charitable Trust (TACT).

There is no prescribed level of charitable donation and it is recognised that a member’s ability to contribute may vary over time. As a guide, most Liverymen donate (as a minimum) a sum equivalent to their Quarterage payment each year.