When you get your tax bill, or your pay slip showing how much tax you have just paid, everyone wonders how great it would be to pay no tax.
One couple in the UK with their family business did just that for 10 years, but then they got caught. And here is what happened to them.
A husband and wife run tarmac business from Somerset recently felt the full force of an HMRC tax enforcement legal case.
The couple had failed to pay any tax, NI or VAT for over 10 years whilst living the highlife – building up a property investment portfolio worth over £1.6million and a string of expensive Porche’s, Range Rover and Mercedes. They also were found to have over 80 bank accounts, many in false names with deposits totalling £1.4 million.
At the court hearing, HMRC presented their calculation of tax not paid totalling some £550 k , NI not paid totalling £276 k and VAT not paid of £256 k.
Shortly before the court date, the defendant claimed to be suffering from dementia in an attempt to delay the case. He subsequently attempted to fail on purpose the medical examinations ordered by the court and was ordered for trial.
His wife changed her plea to guilty at the last minute.
Their punishment ?
The wife was sent to prison for 3 years and 6 months.
The husband was sent to prison for 4 years.
And HMRC were granted permission to recover the tax owing through the courts confiscation scheme.
Given that the couples business had previously been successfully prosecuted by trading standards for poor standards of work and false representation in targeting the elderly and vulnerable, it looks like the citizens of Somerset will not miss this business.
Tax Return Harlow – Transform Accounting – Tax Return Essex