What's Included
We review the FTA decision you are disputing, assess whether reconsideration grounds genuinely exist, gather the supporting evidence and legal basis for the request, prepare and submit it within the required deadline, and manage any further FTA correspondence until a reconsideration decision is issued.
Where a reconsideration is unsuccessful and further escalation to the Tax Disputes Resolution Committee becomes relevant, we advise on that next step and the timeline involved, so you understand the full range of options available.
Why a Health Check Is Worth Doing
Reconsideration Requests must be submitted within 40 business days of the original decision, and a request lacking clear legal grounds or supporting evidence is unlikely to succeed regardless of how justified the underlying disagreement feels. The strength of the request itself — not just the fact that you disagree — is what determines the outcome.
Missing the submission deadline forfeits the right to reconsideration entirely for that decision, which is why acting quickly once a disputed decision is received matters as much as the quality of the argument itself.
Who Needs This Service
Businesses that believe an FTA assessment, penalty or decision is factually or legally incorrect, and want to challenge it through the proper formal process rather than simply accepting it or letting the deadline lapse.
What We'll Need From You
A copy of the FTA decision you are disputing, the date it was received, and any supporting records or evidence relevant to why you believe the decision is incorrect.
Our Process
We assess the decision and the strength of your grounds for reconsideration, prepare a formal request with supporting evidence and legal reasoning, submit it within the FTA’s deadline, and track it through to a final decision, advising on next steps if further escalation is needed.
Getting Started
Contact us as soon as possible after receiving the disputed decision — the 40 business day window moves quickly, and we need time to properly assess and prepare a strong request.
Building a Strong Reconsideration Case
A strong request typically combines a clear legal argument for why the FTA’s interpretation was incorrect, documentary evidence supporting your version of events, and where relevant, reference to similar cases or FTA guidance that supports your position — we assemble each of these elements rather than relying on the disagreement alone.
Timeframes to Expect
The FTA is required to respond to a Reconsideration Request within a set statutory period once it is submitted, though the exact timeline can vary depending on the complexity of the issue and whether further information is requested during the review.
When Reconsideration Is the Right Path
Reconsideration is the right first step for most disputed FTA decisions, since it is faster and less formal than escalating to the Tax Disputes Resolution Committee. We assess this at the outset so you are not pursuing a longer, costlier process when reconsideration alone has a genuine chance of resolving the matter.
Why Businesses Choose Us for Reconsideration
A Reconsideration Request is only as strong as the argument and evidence behind it, and we have prepared enough of these to know which arguments the FTA actually engages with versus which ones are unlikely to move a decision. This experience shapes how we frame every request, rather than submitting a generic disagreement and hoping it succeeds.
We also give you a realistic assessment of your chances before preparing a formal request, so you can decide whether to proceed with confidence rather than uncertainty about whether the effort is worthwhile.
This honesty extends to declining to pursue a request we believe genuinely lacks merit — protecting you from spending time and fees on a case unlikely to change the outcome, even where we understand the frustration behind the original decision.
Escalating Beyond Reconsideration
If a Reconsideration Request does not resolve the matter, escalating to the Tax Disputes Resolution Committee is a more formal process with its own procedural requirements and timelines. We advise honestly on whether escalation is worthwhile for your specific case, since not every unresolved reconsideration justifies the further time and cost involved.
Get Expert Help for Your Business
Talk to an FTA-approved tax consultant today. Free consultation, no obligation — we’ll tell you exactly what your business needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
We explain the issue and its financial impact, then recommend next steps, which is typically a Voluntary Disclosure to correct the affected return before the FTA identifies it independently.
This depends on your risk appetite and how long you have been registered — many clients start with the most recent one to two years, since the FTA’s typical review window covers this period.
Yes, it is a private engagement between you and us — nothing is reported to the FTA unless you choose to act on the findings through a Voluntary Disclosure.
Most single-year reviews for a small to mid-sized business complete within one to two weeks, depending on record volume and how organised the underlying data is.