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AI-assisted adviser preparation · Not tax advice

Questions to ask your tax adviser before an exit

This checklist is not tax advice. It is a list of questions to take to a qualified tax adviser, who should assess your individual circumstances.

In short

Tax on a business exit depends on timing, how you came to own the shares and how the deal is structured. This tool turns those facts into a checklist of questions to take to a qualified tax adviser. It does not give tax advice, apply reliefs or calculate tax.

Written by Tony Vaughan

Published: · Last reviewed: · Editorial policy

For example: "Hoping to sell in 2–3 years, possibly sooner if approached."

For example: "Founded the company in 2009 with my spouse; we each hold 50% of ordinary shares."

For example: "Share sale to a trade buyer, part cash on completion and part earn-out over two years."

ExitPlanning.co.uk does not save your answers in an account, enquiry record or analytics. Your answers are sent to the AI service solely to generate your checklist. Please do not include names, company names, exact financial figures or other unnecessary personal information.

What does this tool do?

It converts your own description of a planned business exit into a meeting checklist for a qualified tax adviser. It helps you prepare business sale tax questions; it does not give answers about your tax position, determine relief eligibility, calculate tax or recommend a transaction structure.

What information should I provide?

Describe your broad exit timing, when and how you acquired your ownership, and the transaction you have in mind. For example, say whether you expect a full share sale, partial sale or succession, with deferred payments or shares retained. Do not include names, company names, exact financial figures or unnecessary personal information.

What can it ask about?

Depending on your description, questions may cover BADR, proposed Founders’ Relief, holding periods, share acquisition history, spouse or family holdings, trading status, deferred consideration, earn-outs and retained equity. These are topics to discuss with a tax adviser for selling company shares, not findings about whether any rule applies to you.

For background, read our guides to Business Asset Disposal Relief and the proposed Founders' Relief. To talk through your wider plans with an experienced exit adviser, request a confidential consultation.