Last updated: 14 April 2026. This disclaimer is part of our Terms of Service and every report you purchase.
Valuion reports are indicative valuations. They are a rigorous starting point, not a certified appraisal. This page sets out clearly what our reports are suitable for, what they are not suitable for, and the jurisdiction-specific rules that govern formal tax filings.
What our reports are
Valuation reports produced by Valuion are indicative valuations based on information supplied by the customer and industry data current as of the report date. They apply recognised valuation methodologies (Revenue multiple, EBITDA multiple, Asset-based, and for Detailed tier, Discounted Cash Flow) to your business’s specific financial profile.
They are intended as:
- A starting point for negotiating with a buyer, investor, or partner.
- An anchor for internal planning, benchmarking, and decision-making.
- Input for informal discussions with your own accountant, lawyer, or financial advisor.
- A defensible first number when nothing else exists.
What our reports are not
Standard, Detailed, and Premium tier reports are not suitable for the following uses:
- Court proceedings that require a certified valuation signed by a qualified expert witness.
- Tax disputes over statutory thresholds (see jurisdiction-specific guidance below).
- Regulated share-scheme valuations requiring FCA, SEC, or equivalent compliance.
- Insurance claims requiring a certified loss adjuster valuation.
- Bank lending above thresholds where the lender requires RICS Red Book or IVS-certified appraisals.
- Mergers and acquisitions above thresholds that trigger competition-authority review.
- Any regulatory submission where the applicable law requires a named qualified practitioner to sign the valuation.
If your use case falls into any of these categories, you should engage a chartered accountant, Chartered Business Valuator, Certified Valuation Analyst, or equivalent qualified practitioner in your jurisdiction. A Valuion report can still be useful preparation for that engagement (and is often significantly faster and cheaper as a first pass), but the final document must be signed by a qualified professional.
Jurisdiction-specific tax guidance
Tax treatment of business valuations varies significantly by country. The following guidance is general, not specific tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional in your jurisdiction before relying on any valuation for a formal tax submission.
United Kingdom (HMRC)
HMRC’s Shares and Assets Valuation (SAV) unit has specific methodology requirements for formal tax valuations. For Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax on share disposals, or Employee Share Scheme valuations, SAV may scrutinise or reject valuations that do not follow accepted methodology or supporting evidence.
For Capital Gains Tax disposals, a Post-Transaction Valuation Check via Form CG34 is available to have SAV review your valuation. For Inheritance Tax purposes, the executors should typically commission a valuation from a qualified valuer (often in line with RICS Red Book standards for real property). Valuion reports are suitable for planning, negotiation anchoring, and background material for your accountant; they are not a substitute for a SAV-agreed valuation or a professional appraisal.
For EMI option schemes specifically, HMRC offers a voluntary pre-grant valuation agreement via Form VAL231. Agreed EMI valuations are typically valid for 90 days. Your accountant can apply for this on your behalf; a Valuion report may help frame the range before that conversation, but the VAL231 submission should be prepared by a professional.
Ireland (Revenue Commissioners)
Revenue Commissioners’ Capital Acquisitions Tax valuations operate under strict rules in Section 26 of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003. Indicative valuations may be rejected for estates, gifts, or transfers that require formal valuations.
Use Valuion reports for planning purposes and family discussions only. For actual CAT submissions (gifts or inheritances exceeding the relevant Group A, B, or C threshold; Business Relief claims under Section 92 CATCA; valuations of private company shares under Section 27 CATCA), engage a Revenue-approved valuer or chartered accountant with valuation specialisation. The report may help establish a reasonable range to discuss with your valuer, but should not itself be submitted.
For Capital Gains Tax on disposal of business assets, Entrepreneur Relief (Section 597AA TCA 1997) depends on accurate valuation of the business at the relevant date. Retain professional advice on this.
United States (IRS)
For federal estate tax (Form 706), gift tax (Form 709), or Section 409A valuations of private company stock, the IRS expects valuations that meet the qualified appraiser and qualified appraisal standards set out in the relevant Treasury Regulations. For 409A specifically, Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(B) describes the safe-harbour framework for valuations of private company stock, which requires an independent appraiser with sufficient education and experience.
Valuion reports are not qualified appraisals. For tax submissions, engage a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with valuation specialisation.
Valuion reports remain useful for board-approved 409A safe-harbour review preparation, internal planning, ESOP feasibility discussions, and investor-relations context. For the formal filing itself, commission a qualified appraiser.
Canada (CRA)
CRA valuations under Section 69 of the Income Tax Act require that non-arm’s-length transactions be priced at fair market value. While the CRA does not formally mandate that valuations be performed by a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), a CBV-signed valuation is strongly preferred for estate freezes, Section 85 rollovers, share reorganisations, and any transaction that might reasonably attract CRA scrutiny.
Our reports are suitable for internal planning, succession discussions, and preparatory analysis before engaging a CBV. For any transaction likely to be reviewed by the CRA, or where significant tax is at stake, commission a CBV-signed valuation. Including a price-adjustment clause in the relevant agreement is also standard practice.
Australia (ATO)
ATO valuation requirements under Subdivision 115-A (50% CGT discount) and Part IVA (general anti-avoidance) have specific standards. For Employee Share Scheme (ESS) valuations under Division 83A of the ITAA 1997, the ATO publishes approved safe-harbour market valuation methods (including for the start-up concession in section 83A-33), set out in the Income Tax Assessment Regulations. For unlisted shares, these approved methods should be followed rather than an indicative valuation.
Valuion reports are planning aids, not formal valuations for ATO purposes. They can be useful for small business CGT concession (Subdivision 152-A) feasibility discussions with your accountant, but the actual valuation used in the tax return should be prepared by an ATO-recognised qualified valuer.
New Zealand (IRD)
IRD accepts valuations from qualified practitioners; in particular, members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) with business valuation specialisation.
Valuion reports are indicative only and should be reviewed with a qualified CA ANZ practitioner before any IRD submission. For share-scheme valuations, related-party transactions, and estate transfers, retain a qualified valuer.
Use in court proceedings
Valuion reports are not expert witness reports. They are not signed by a named expert, do not comply with the CPR Part 35 expert duty (England and Wales) or equivalent rules in other jurisdictions, and are not admissible as expert evidence.
In family-law proceedings where a business valuation is required, both parties typically agree a joint single expert. A Valuion report can be useful background for the instructing solicitor and for informing settlement discussions, but the court-admissible document must be a signed expert report from a qualified business valuer.
Similarly, in shareholder disputes, buy-sell trigger valuations, and partnership dissolutions, a Valuion report may help parties anchor a reasonable range, but the final binding valuation (if contested) must come from a qualified expert acceptable to both sides or appointed by the court.
Reliance by third parties
Our reports are prepared for the named customer only. Third parties (buyers, lenders, investors, courts, regulators) may not rely on the report without our written consent. The customer indemnifies Valuion against any claim arising from third-party reliance without our written consent.
If you are a buyer considering a Valuion report supplied by a seller, treat it as a negotiating anchor from the seller’s side, not an independent valuation. Commission your own due-diligence valuation.
Limitation of liability
Valuion’s liability for any claim arising from or relating to a report is strictly limited to the amount you paid for the report. Full limitation-of-liability terms are in our Terms of Service, Section 9.
Your obligation
By purchasing and using a Valuion report, you confirm that:
- You have read this disclaimer.
- You understand the report is indicative and not a certified appraisal.
- You accept responsibility for determining whether the report is suitable for your intended use.
- You will not present the report to third parties as a certified appraisal.
- You accept the limitation of liability set out in our Terms of Service.
Questions
If you are not sure whether a Valuion report fits your use case, contact us before purchasing. We will tell you honestly if the product is not right for you.