HT Drinks Group

Tax Strategy Statement

Year Ended 31 March 2025 – published in accordance with the UK Finance Act 2016

HT Drinks Holdings Ltd (The Group) or (HT Drinks Group) includes the following companies:

HT Drinks Holdings Ltd, HT Drinks Ltd, Champers (Wholesale) Ltd, Drinksupermarket.com Ltd, Malcolm Cowen (Drinks) Ltd, Gift Creation and Design Holdings Ltd, Gift Creation & Design Ltd, Trinart Ltd and Valecorp Ltd.

 

Our approach to tax

HT Drinks Group is committed to conducting its tax affairs responsibly, transparently, and in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Group’s objective is to ensure that all tax obligations are met accurately and on time, while maintaining strong governance and appropriate oversight of tax-related matters.

 

We aim to maintain constructive and professional relationships with tax authorities and to engage openly with HMRC to support a fair and reasonable interpretation of tax legislation.

 

Governance and control framework

The Group operates a governance framework designed to ensure that tax risks are identified, assessed, and managed appropriately.

 

This includes:

• Implementing policies and procedures across the business to support compliance with relevant tax laws and regulatory requirements.
• Ensuring that employees responsible for tax matters remain up to date with changes in legislation through regular updates and input from external advisers.
• Maintaining appropriate internal controls, including separation between the preparation and review of tax calculations and returns. Final approval of tax filings is the responsibility of the Finance Controller.
• Material tax risk items are to be brought to the attention of the Board of Directors of HT Drinks Holdings Ltd by the Directors/Tax managers of the main business units.

 

These measures are intended to promote accuracy, consistency, and accountability in all tax reporting.

 

Oversight of The Group’s tax strategy and its implementation is assigned to senior management (including the management of the individual companies), with material tax matters escalated where appropriate. This ensures that tax considerations are aligned with The Group’s wider governance, risk management and business strategy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approach to tax planning

HT Drinks Group does not pursue arrangements that are artificial or contrived and designed solely to achieve a tax advantage. However, The Group recognises that tax is a legitimate consideration in commercial decision-making.

 

Where appropriate, the Group will structure transactions in a tax-efficient manner, provided that such arrangements:

• Are aligned with genuine commercial objectives.
• Comply fully with the letter and spirit of UK tax legislation.
• The Group seeks to maintain appropriate systems and records to support accurate tax reporting and to provide a clear audit trail for material tax positions and filings.
• The Group seeks to ensure that its tax position reflects the underlying economic substance of its activities and that it applies tax rules consistently across the business.

 

External professional advice is sought where necessary to ensure that significant or complex transactions are treated correctly for tax purposes.

 

Attitude to risk

The Group adopts a cautious and responsible approach to tax risk. It is mindful of both the financial and reputational consequences that can arise from aggressive or uncertain tax positions.

 

In line with this risk-averse stance, The Group:

• Seeks to avoid positions that could expose the business to material uncertainty or dispute.
• Engages third-party advisers where specialist technical input is required to support decision-making and compliance.
• Where tax legislation requires interpretation or the exercise of judgement, The Group ensures that decisions are supported by appropriate analysis and where necessary, external advice and are documented in line with good governance practices.

 

Relationship with HMRC

HT Drinks Group is committed to working with HMRC in an open, honest and cooperative manner.

 This includes:

• Submitting tax returns and making tax payments accurately and on time.
• Responding to HMRC queries in a timely and transparent way.
• Seeking to resolve any areas of uncertainty or dispute through constructive and collaborative dialogue.
• Any inadvertent errors in submissions made to HMRC are fully disclosed as soon as reasonably practicable after they are identified.

 The Group’s objective is to maintain a professional and respectful relationship with HMRC, supporting a clear and balanced understanding of its tax position in relation to past, current and future periods.