Hui Ling McCarthy KC

Hui Ling appears regularly in complex and substantial litigation, including:

• representing the pension trustees in Equity Trust Singapore (Court of Appeal) involving tax and surcharges on £100m of funds under management. Lloyd L.J. described her submissions as “conspicuously able” [41].
• acting for the 24 Claimants in Derrin Brother Properties (High Court) concerning ATO enquiries with tax at stake of AUD 230m. Simler J. described her arguments as “admirable and forceful” [80].
• securing what the Financial Times called an important legal victory for the government in the SDLT avoidance case, Vardy Properties.
• representing five lead case LLPs in the £300m Icebreaker litigation.  Nugee J. described her arguments in related UT proceedings as “carefully structured and skilfully presented” [61].

Hui Ling acts for corporate and private clients in all areas of tax law with an emphasis on corporate and international tax matters, VAT, SDLT and rating & valuation.  Recent work includes:

• Corporate and international tax: Capital allowances, double tax treaty disputes, R&D credits (particularly in the energy sector), anti-hybrid rules, and issues concerning corporate debt and cross-border lending.
• VAT: Partial exemption, supply classification issues (particularly financial services and insurance) and real estate (particularly development, construction, energy-saving materials).
• Private clients and related issues: Advising sportsmen and event sponsors, broadcasters, entertainers (film and television, including IR35 and public sector off-payroll working), fund managers and pension scheme trustees.
• Business rates: Acting in notable disputes concerning MCCs, unoccupied hereditaments, exemptions and list alterations / errors.  Advising the VOA in relation to MCCs and the COVID pandemic.

Hui Ling has a particular interest in cases raising avoidance / abuse of rights, human rights or accounting issues as well as an interest in innovative tax dispute resolution processes, including ADR and bilateral investment treaty (BIT) arbitration.  In 2011, she became chambers’ first CEDR accredited mediator.

Conferences

Hui Ling has chaired or spoken at conferences organised by the CIOT, the ATT, STEP, the VPG, the Oxford Centre for Business Taxation, the International Fiscal Association and the Academy of European Law, amongst others. She is always happy to accept speaking invitations, including at internal firm training seminars.

CJEU

• Case C-28/16 MVM (written observations for UK) – VAT: deduction of input tax by holding company

Privy Council

• National Transport Authority v Mauritius Secondary Industry Ltd [2010] UKPC 31 – successfully appeared for the NTA in a case concerning the incidence of VAT in a commercial property deal.

Supreme Court

Tax

• Target [2023] UKSC 35 (also acted in the CA, UT and FtT) – successfully represented HMRC at all stages in the leading domestic authority on the VAT finance exemption and outsourced transactions; “debt collection” carve out.
• Tooth [2021] UKSC 17 (also acted in the CA) – appeared for HMRC in the leading case on “staleness” and deliberate conduct.
• Derry [2019] UKSC 19 (also acted in the CA and UT) – successfully appeared for Mr Derry: whether carry back share loss relief claim “included in a return”.  Instructed by Greenwoods GRM.
• Project Blue [2018] UKSC 30 (also acted in the CA, UT and FtT) – SDLT; application of s.75A FA 2003; alternative finance; art.14 and A1P1 ECHR.
• Eclipse UKSC 2015/0102 – trading; application of Jones / Pendragon.  Instructed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
• WHA [2013] UKSC 24 – VAT; input tax recovery; application of Redrow / LMUK.  Instructed by Forbes Hall and Deloitte.

Rating

• Telereal Trillium [2019] UKSC 23 (also acted in the CA and UT) – successfully appeared for the Valuation Officer in a case concerning the rateable value of an unoccupied office block.

Court of Appeal

Tax

• GE Financial Investments [2024] EWCA Civ 797 (also acted in the UT and FtT) – successful appeal concerning UK/US Double Tax Convention, application of art 4 (residence) and art 7 (permanent establishment) to “stapled” entities.  Permission to the SCt refused.
• LG Park [2023] EWCA Civ 1193 – successful appeal concerning the transfer of market value issues to the UT (Lands Chamber); useful guidance on “scope of the closure notice” post-Investec (CA).
• Charman [2021] EWCA Civ 1804 – represented Mr Charman in an important case concerning the tax treatment of employee share options.  Instructed by Withers.
• Payne [2020] EWCA Civ 889 – the meaning of “goods vehicles” for employment tax
• Fortyseven Park Street [2019] EWCA Civ 849 (also acted in the UT and FtT) – the VAT treatment of a Marriott property in Mayfair.
• Tager [2018] EWCA Civ 1727 (also acted in the UT) – Sch.36 para.50 penalties for failure to disclose.  Instructed by Withers.
• Raftopoulou [2018] EWCA Civ 818 – whether s.118 TMA “reasonable excuse” can extend 4-year time limit for making claims
• Degorce [2017] EWCA Civ 1427 – £20m loss relief claim from film business.  Instructed by Enyo Law.
• Wiltonpark [2016] EWCA Civ 1294 (also acted in the UT and FtT) – VAT; finance exemption; meaning of “security for money”
• ELS Group [2016] EWCA Civ 663 (also acted in the UT ) – VAT; BB 10/04 agency treatment for employment bureaux; misdirection.  Instructed by Forbes Hall and Deloitte.
• Derrin [2016] EWCA Civ 15 (also acted in the HCt) – the legality of Sch.36 notices; whether there had been a breach of art.6 (fair trial) HRA 1998.  Instructed by Kingsley Napley.
• Esporta [2014] EWCA Civ 155 (also acted in the UT and FtT) – sports club membership fees; liability to VAT
• Equity Trust (Singapore) [2012] EWCA Civ 192 (also acted in HC) – QROPS status.  Instructed by Squire Sanders.

Rating

• BMC Properties v VO [2015] EWCA Civ 1306 (also acted in the UT) – “effective date” of an alteration to the non-domestic rating list

Upper Tribunal/High Court

Tax

• A Taxpayer [2024] UKUT 12 – FtT direction that all preliminary proceedings be heard in private overturned.
• WTGIL [2024] UKUT 77 – application of the VAT insurance exemption to telematics insurance intermediary.  Instructed by RSM – on appeal to the CA.
• Dollar Financial [2023] UKUT 256 (also acted in the FtT) – VAT group membership cannot be backdated once the application to join has been accepted.
• HSBC Electronic Data Processing [2022] UKUT 41 – leading case on the application of VAT grouping rules.
• Greenspace [2021] UKUT 290 (also acted in the FtT) – VAT reduced rate for energy-saving materials.  Instructed by Mazars.
• Tower Resources [2021] UKUT 123 (also acted in the FtT) – input tax recovery and holding companies.
• Safestore [2020] UKUT 322 (also acted in the FtT) – VAT insurance exemption.
• Inventive Tax Strategies [2019] UKUT 221 (also acted in the FtT) – VAT treatment of fee refunds and credit notes.
• Tesco [2019] UKUT 0018 (TCC) (also acted in the FtT) – acted for Tesco in its successful £140m input tax recovery appeal; application of Redrow and LMUK.  Instructed by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
• Wetheralds [2018] UKUT 173 (TCC) – VAT; reduced rating for energy-saving materials.
• Frosh and Joyce [2017] UKUT 320 (TCC) – SDLT avoidance.
• Languard and Macpherson [2017] UKUT 307 (TCC) – VAT; conversion of mixed use property and zero-rating.
• J3 [2017] UKUT 253 (TCC) – VAT; construction – meaning of alteration of existing building
• Zombory-Moldovan (t/a Craft Carnival) [2016] UKUT 433 (TCC) (also acted in the FtT) – VAT; land exemption
• Coinstar [2017] UKUT 256 (TCC) (also acted in the FtT) – VAT; coin-counting machines; finance exemption
• Bastionspark [2016] UKUT 425 (TCC) – costs.  Instructed by Rosenblatt Solicitors.
• Dyer [2016] UKUT 381 (TCC) – CGT; share valuation
• Acornwood [2016] UKUT 361 (TCC) (also acted in the FtT) – lead case appeals in the Icebreaker litigation; partnership loss claims.  Instructed by Rosenblatt Solicitors.
• Hills [2016] UKUT 189 (TCC) (also acted in FtT) – VAT; option to tax; sale of property from SIPP
• Norseman Gold [2016] UKUT 69 (TCC) – VAT treatment of UK holding company making supplies of management services to overseas subsidiaries
• Xerox [2015] UKUT 631 (TCC) (also acted in FtT) – Customs duties; classification of Xerox Solid Ink
• Lobler [2015] UKUT 152 (TCC) – taxation of chargeable event gains on partial surrender of life policies; ECHR arguments; proportionality.  Representing the CIOT.
• Dhanak [2014] UKUT 68 (TCC) (also acted in FtT) – availability of relief under s.392 ITEPA 2003; jurisdiction FtT.  Instructed by McKie & Co (Advisory Services).
• Bosher [2014] UKUT 579 (TCC) (also acted in FtT) – CIS penalties; disproportionality
• Telfer v Sakellarios [2013] EWHC 1556 (Comm) – liability to PAYE in the context of a claim for payment; “other payer”; tax presence.  Instructed by Davenport Lyons.
• Leslie Smith [2011] UKUT B16 (TCC) – preparation of accounts not in accordance with GAAP; negligence
• Equity Trust (Singapore) Limited [2010] EWHC 2996 (Ch) – use of CPR Part 8 procedure; jurisdiction.  Instructed by Squire Sanders.
• Hammond v Coys of Kensington Ltd (ChD; Companies Court) – VAT; auctioneers’ margin scheme.  Instructed by Taylor Wessing.

Rating / council tax

• Church of Scientology REC [2023] UKUT 1 (LC) (also acted in the VTE) – religious exemption for business rates.
• Wigan Football Company [2019] UKUT 0389 (LC) (also acted in the VTE) – whether relegation from the Premier League gave rise to a material change in circumstances.
• Merlin v VO [2018] UKUT (LC) (also acted in the VTE) – business rates; whether the Smiler crash at Alton Towers gave rise to a material change in circumstances; guidance on remuneration of expert witnesses
• LO v Dannhauser [2018] EWHC 3162 (Admin) – Council Tax; the correct test for altering the list
• R(oao) Ramdhun [2014] EWHC 946 (Admin) – meaning of “self-contained unit”
• R (oao Tameside MBC) v Valuation Officer [2013] EWHC 450 (Admin) – correcting errors in non-domestic rating list

First-tier Tribunal (or equivalent)

Direct Tax

• Northwood [2023] UKFTT 351 – Remuneration Trust tax avoidance scheme; sham; GAAP deductibility; “wholly and exclusively”.
• Salinger [2016] UKFTT 667 (TC) – IHT and trusts; reversionary interest and excluded property rules.
• Paya Ltd and Anr [2016] UKFTT 660 (TC) – rights of a non-party to admit evidence.  Instructed by the BBC.
• Rotberg [2014] UKFTT 657 (TC) – CGT on share sale; jurisdiction of FtT; legitimate expectation.  Instructed by BDO.
• Wildin [2014] UKFTT 459 (TC) – valuation of goodwill for CGT
• Kishore [2013] UKFTT 465 (TC) – income tax; single/separate trades; cessation of trade.  Instructed by Hill Dickinson.
• Pepper [2013] UKFTT 654 (TC) – contract settlements; scope of FtT’s jurisdiction.
• Trustees of David Zetland Settlement [2013] UKFTT 284 (TC) – IHT; availability of BPR.  Instructed by Squire Sanders.
• Weiser [2012] UKFTT 501 (TC) – UK/Israel double tax treaty; meaning of “subject to tax”
• Curran [2012] UKFTT 517 (TC) – interest relief; validity of settlement agreement
• Crompton [2009] STC (SCD) 504 – income tax treatment of compensation payment

VAT and Duties

• Barclays Service Corporation [2024] UKFTT 785 – successful defence of HMRC’s refusal to admit taxpayers to VAT group; principles in HSBC UT applied.
• Emerchantpay [2022] UKFTT 334 – successful appeal about financial intermediation for VAT.  Instructed by Grant Thornton.
• Romima [2019] UKFTT 736 – VAT treatment of vouchers; finance exemption
• N Brown Group plc and JD Williams [2019] UKFTT 172 – VAT; partial exemption attribution and apportionment; marketing costs in the context of a business selling goods and offering finance
• Perenco [2015] UKFTT 65 (TC) – Fleming claim for recovery of input tax on share issue expenses; instructed by Deloitte
• African Consolidated Resources [2014] UKFTT 580 (TC) – input tax recovery by UK holding company
• Anna Scholz [2013] UKFTT 353 (TC) – Customs duties; eligibility of goods for samples relief
• Jones [2012] UKFTT 503 (TC) – successfully argued for the taxpayer that the “use or disposal” of property was not restricted by s.106 agreement, securing an input tax repayment under the DIY Scheme.
• Enersys [2010] UKFTT 20 (TC) – leading case on disproportionality of VAT surcharges.

SDLT

• BTR Core Fund JPUT [2024] UKFTT 885 – meaning of “mistake in a claim” in the context of an overpayment claim for multiple dwellings relief.
• Crest Nicholson [2017] UKFTT 134 (TC) – SDLT avoidance; distribution in specie scheme; HMRC’s determination and discovery powers
• Allchin [2013] UKFTT 198 (TC) – application of s.45 FA 2003 to a novation
• Vardy Properties [2012] UKFTT 564 (TC) – SDLT avoidance; distribution in specie scheme
• Neiland [2011] – Adjudicator to HMLR – effect of s.79(1) FA 2003

Rating

• Pearl Group [2015] No. 054017371184/537N05 – relevance of a restrictive covenant to the determination of rateable value

Publications

• Former General Editor of Private Client Business (Sweet & Maxwell)
• Contributor to VAT Commentary and Analysis (Sweet & Maxwell)
• FA(No.2) 2017 Notes: Section 9: life insurance policies: recalculating gains on part surrenders etc [2017] BTR 527
• UBS and DB Group Services: a departure from the conventional approach? [2016] BTR 257
• Tribunal Fees – a tax on justice (Tax Adviser, Management of Taxes Voice, Issue 1, January 2016)
• Breaking the Deadlock – Resolving SME Tax Disputes by ADR [2012] PCB 185
• The Tax Treatment of Damages and Compensation [2012] PCB 117
• SHIPS that Pass in the Night – Reconciling Mayes and Drummond [2011] BTR 279
• Navigating the Finance Act 2007 Penalty Regime: Three Case Studies [2011] PCB 210
• Remittances and Overseas Transfers [2009] PCB 397
• Protected Cell Companies and TCGA 1992 s.13 [2009] PCB 316
• It’s Good to Talk – resolving disputes via ADR (Taxation Magazine, April 2012)
• Tax Penalties – Convention Compliant? (Tax Journal, April 2009)
• Abuse of Rights: Imposing Limits (Tax Journal, November 2008)
• Abuse of Rights: The Effect of the Doctrine on VAT Planning [2007] BTR No. 2 160

Awards

Chambers / Legal 500 Bar Awards:

• Shortlisted for Tax Silk of the Year 2019, 2021 and 2023
• Tax Junior of the Year 2013 and 2017; shortlisted 2016 and 2018

Shortlisted for the Chambers 100 UK Bar (Juniors) 2013

Shortlisted as a finalist for Young Practitioner of the Year – STEP Private Client Awards (2013/14)

Rising Star within Indirect Tax – Indirect Tax Awards (2012)

40 under 40 – Tax Journal (2011/12)

Shortlisted for Taxation’s Rising Star – Taxation Awards (2009)

Top 35 Under 35 – Private Client Practitioner (2009)

Legal Directories – Chambers and Partners Star Individual: Tax; Band 1 Silk: Indirect Tax and Rating & Valuation

Tax

• She’s very persuasive and excellent at quickly identifying the point that might turn the case.  A go-to KC, who gives thorough and balanced opinions.  I can happily entrust her with my clients and know that she will be considerate and approachable both with them and my team.  Put simply, she’s an absolute star – Chambers and Partners 2025
• incredibly impressive… extremely intelligent.  An extremely good team player with an unbelievably strong work ethic – Chambers and Partners 2024
• She is incredibly quick witted and grasps the key issue at hand with incredible speed. She is hugely conscientious and is always completely on top of her brief and indeed what everyone else should be doing – Legal 500 2024

• Super performer. Fearless advocate; you want her on your team – Chambers & Partners 2023
• Highly rated silk. Great at absorbing huge volumes of information and simplifying the issues; her pleadings are exceptional as are her advocacy skills – Chambers and Partners 2020
• She works incredibly hard, is tactically very astute and clients love her – Legal 500 2019
• Highly rated silk. She has an incredible insight and clarity of approach. An excellent advocate combining the attributes of eloquence and precision. Quick, clear-thinking and decisive – Chambers and Partners 2019 
• Tenacious as an advocate and not afraid to push difficult points – Legal 500 2018 
• Intellectually very sharp, quick to think on her feet in court and very measured in analysing arguments. Very thorough and provides super client service – Chambers and Partners 2018 
• Excellent, she’s just so bright and so on top of everything – Chambers and Partners 2017 
• An extraordinarily accomplished advocate – Legal 500 2016 
• A phenomenal talent – Who’s Who Legal 2016

Indirect Tax

• … great at distilling complex legal concepts into practical advice. … a tenacious litigator and great advocate.  Clients really like her and it is very nice to be led by her as she always makes you feel as though you’re playing an important role in the case – Chambers and Partners 2025
• Hui Ling really is fantastic – Chambers and Partners 2024
• Hui Ling is an excellent advocate. She is able to convey complex arguments convincingly and is a redoubtable cross-examiner – Legal 500 2024

• Brilliant to work with, providing great support and comfort to clients facing difficult matters.  Her support, knowledge, openness and judgment all the way through the litigation process are a wonder to behold – Chambers & Partners 2023
• Very strong advocate who is very bright.  Clever and determined advocate who combines first-rate tax and public law expertise – Chambers and Partners 2020 
• Highly praised new silk. Has boundless energy and ambition. She is excellent to work with and has good judgement.  An articulate advocate who also provides sound commercial advice. Very approachable, intelligent, responsive and reliable – Chambers and Partners 2019 
• Forensic in her attention to detail. Thorough, responsive, constructive and provides a great client service – Chambers and Partners 2018 
• Strategic and persuasive, with a rare ability to make the complex seem simple.  Excellent drafting skills coupled with persuasive, measured advocacy – Legal 500 2017 
• Highly regarded for her expertise in corporate tax and VAT – Who’s Who Legal 2017
• Diligent, eloquent, intelligent. Phenomenally perceptive – Chambers and Partners 2017 

Rating & Valuation

• … has a fierce intellect and is a true delight to work with. … technically very good and she is well regarded by the Valuation Office Agency – Chambers and Partners 2025
• Brilliant and really great to work with… highly intelligent and analytical and really responsive. She is also very much in demand, especially with her tax practice.  Formidable advocacy skills.  She is very impressive – Chambers and Partners 2023
• She’s got a wealth of experience in the area. In the last three to four years, she’s been involved in very significant cases, one of which went to the Supreme Court – Chambers and Partners 2023
• She has formidable advocacy skills and penetrating analysis of appeal grounds. She is very impressive – Chambers and Partners 2023

• Bencher of the Inner Temple
• Chairman of the CIOT’s Dispute Resolution and Litigation Group
• CEDR Accredited Mediator
• Fellow of the Association of Tax Technicians (ATT)
• Mathematics, Durham University BSc (Hons) Dunelm

• Gray & Farrar: an accidental departure from CJEU case law? Article by Hui Ling McCarthy KC – 11 New Square
• Hui Ling McCarthy QC and Sarah Black have written a practice note on judicial review in tax disputes for Practical Law
• HSBC – Upper Tribunal sets out key principles in important VAT grouping case
• Greenspace – Upper Tribunal rules on energy-saving materials
• Tax Mediation Podcast
• EU Value Added Tax Law
• Online conference: Statutory Residence Test and exceptional circumstances
• Supreme Court refuses permission in Fortyseven Park Street appeal
• Target – Victory in the Upper Tribunal in important VAT and financial services case
• Hui Ling McCarthy QC chairs webinar for CIOT and ATT on ADR