Tax Senior Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Applying for a Tax Senior job in the UK? Here is what you are likely to be asked. These questions come from our Tax Senior question bank of 16 questions, written for UK employers at senior level.

Eight Tax Senior interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. You are moving from trainee to senior in tax. What do you think changes in your responsibilities, and how are you preparing for it?

Why they ask: They want to see you understand the step up to review, ownership and supervision.

2. When you review a junior's corporation tax computation, what do you check first and what are the most common errors?

Why they ask: They want to see a practical approach to review at senior level.

3. How would you determine whether an individual is UK resident for tax purposes under the Statutory Residence Test?

Why they ask: They want to see that you can apply a rule-based test that often arises in personal tax work.

4. A client has sold a residential property that was not their main home. What are the tax implications and the reporting deadline?

Why they ask: They want to see you can handle a frequent CGT scenario accurately.

5. A new client approaches you with three years of unfiled self-assessment returns. How would you deal with it?

Why they ask: They want to see sensible compliance handling and risk awareness.

6. Explain how the IR35 off-payroll working rules apply when a medium or large company engages a contractor through their own limited company.

Why they ask: They want to see that you understand the employment tax rules that frequently affect clients.

7. A client wants to claim a large cost in their company that appears to be mainly personal. What do you say?

Why they ask: They want to see integrity and an ability to apply the wholly and exclusively test.

8. Tell me about a time you coached or developed a junior colleague. What did you do and what was the result?

Why they ask: They want evidence of the supervisory skills a senior needs.

A sample answer to question 1

You are moving from trainee to senior in tax. What do you think changes in your responsibilities, and how are you preparing for it?

The biggest change is that I move from doing tasks to owning outcomes. As a senior I'd be expected to run client files from information gathering to filing, reviewing the work of juniors and being the first point of contact for clients, so the quality and timeliness are on me. I'd also have to use more judgement on technical points and know when to escalate them, rather than waiting to be told. I'm preparing by taking on more complex files under supervision, such as capital gains with several disposals and group computations, and I've started reviewing a junior colleague's work using a checklist. I'm also working towards my CTA papers, because the advanced technical knowledge supports the advisory side. I'm trying to improve how I communicate with clients too. I'm aware that managing my own time matters more, so I use trackers and block time for the review and client calls.

Common mistake to avoid: Focusing only on prestige or pay; Saying nothing really changes

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 16 questions are on the Tax Senior interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.