The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers
CITY OF LONDON
Founded 1995 & Incorporated by Royal Charter 2009
HOW TO JOIN THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF TAX ADVISERS
Everyone who is or was engaged in tax practice or tax administration is welcome to apply to join the Company.
Those approved for membership by the Court of Assistants (who manage the Company’s affairs) become Freemen of the Company. Members (or Freemen) may, thereafter, seek advancement to become Liverymen of the Company – having first been granted the Freedom of the City of London (How to join a Livery Company - Livery Committee).
HOW TO BECOME A FREEMAN OF THE COMPANY
The process of joining our Company requires an individual to satisfy the eligibility requirements above, to swear an oath of allegiance (as appropriate), and to make a number of financial commitments detailed below. Applicants should appreciate that membership of any Livery Company is generally considered a long-term commitment and, for many, life-long.
Applications for membership (to become a Freeman) of the Company are to be made on the application form. Applicants are asked to nominate a sponsor (an existing member of the Company who can provide a reference); those without a sponsor may request one via the Clerk (contact details below). Applicants are encouraged to attend a Company event or participate in a Company activity before submitting their application, though this is not always a necessary pre-condition. Applicants are also asked to complete a simple declaration form to satisfy General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The relevant forms appear below under "Application".
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 their meetings in March, June, September, and December of the same year. The intervening period allows for preliminary consideration by the Membership Committee, at one of its periodic meetings.
Those approved for membership are required to attend a Court meeting to be admitted as a Freeman (though, in exceptional cases, this may be done virtually at the discretion of the Court).
Financial Commitments
The financial commitments associated with membership are as follows (as at July 2023):
On Entry
Entry fee (known as a 'Fine') on admission as a Freeman of the Company (resident and working in the UK):
• Under 30 years of age (at the time of admission) - £200
• Under 35 - £250
• Under 40 - £300
• Under 45 - £350
• Over 45 - £400
Entry fee on admission as a Freeman of the Company (resident and working outside the UK – all ages): £125
Ongoing Commitments
Annual membership fee (known as 'Quarterage') (payable each July, ideally by direct debit, at a rate set annually by the Court): £340 (for 2023/24)
Notes:
• Those under the age of 40, and those resident and working outside the UK, may apply to pay a reduced rate of £170.
• As Quarterage covers a full year, new members pay a pro rata fee based on the date of their admission. An individual joining the Company in September pays 9/12 of the full year’s rate.
• The first year's quarterage for a new member may be paid in quarterly instalments dependent upon their date of admission to the Company.
Charitable Donations
Given the Company’s underlying ethos, expressed in its motto of ‘Truth, Fellowship, Charity’, it is anticipated that members of the Company will wish 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, many members donate a sum equivalent to their Quarterage payment each year.
Application
If you would like to apply for membership of the Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers please complete the following forms:
On completion, both forms should be emailed to the Clerk, at: [email protected]