Member Article

HMRC name and shame top tax criminals

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) say the top tax criminals of 2012 have been sentenced to a combined total of 155 years and 10 months behind bars.

HMRC have publicised over 30 convicted tax evasion criminals on Flickr as part of their current Tax Evasion Campaign.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said: “The Government is committed to closing in on tax evaders. Collectively the 32 criminals have been sentenced to more than 150 years. Most people play by the rules and pay what they owe, but HMRC is cracking down on those who don’t.”

“We hope that publishing these pictures will help get across that it always makes sense to declare all your income, and tax dodgers are simply storing up trouble for the future.”

Solicitor Andrew Swan, financial crime partner at Short Richardson and Forth LLP, commented: “As we know, the Government has launched a significant tax evasion campaign. They have invested huge resources into recovering substantial amounts of unpaid taxes. My firm are dealing with more tax evasion cases than ever. Today’s announcement is clear evidence of the step-up in their efforts. Perhaps, however, they need to start showing more consistency in dealing with possible offenders.”

HMRC’s top tax criminals of 2012 can be viewed here.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .