3 Brits banged up for £300k VAT scam
Tax crime squad pounced on bogus businesses in dawn raid
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Three men have been jailed for setting up nine totally fictional firms so that they could get away with £300,000 in a VAT scam.
The men set up bogus companies including a clothes manufacturer, a publishing house and a software engineering company and then submitted VAT repayment claims for the businesses, the HMRC said today. However, there was no evidence that any of the firms were doing any trading to make them eligible for the tax rebate, the taxman said.
The three-person gang, with two members from the West Midlands and one from Manchester, were collared after an investigation by HMRC and all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cheat the public revenue. The Birmingham Crown Court sentenced two of the men to 18 months while the third got three years.
"This case sends a clear message to anyone involved or considering fraud against HMRC - your time is up," said Adrian Farley, assistant director of criminal investigation.
"We are working relentlessly to combat those involved in tax evasion and fraud and bring them before the courts. With over £10 billion being stolen from UK finances each year by criminals, it is serious crime which we are determined to eradicate." ®
COMMENTS
Re: 3 out of 1000's
The Right Honorable Jacqui Smith - Britains first female Home Secretary - fiddled £100k and merely had to issue a pretend apology to her fellow MP's during the great corruption exposure a couple of years back. After agreeing to such a demanding act of contrition, they allowed her to keep the loot. She did lose her job though, more likely because of the embarrassment the porn she charged to the taxpayer caused than the real crime. Anyway, just shows the British justice system for what it is when you hear of others caught doing the same thing (3 people, £300k) - porridge for you lads, with no early kid gloves release of the kind Chris Huhne is about to get.
Re: We're all in it together
FFS. All these companies are paying tax according to the law. Nothing more, nothing less.
Same as me. Same as you. Unless you routinely volunteer to pay extra tax you don't owe? No? Thought not.
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