Figures published by Pinsent Masons show that the average length of prison sentences for UK tax fraud has increased consistently over the last five tax years, from 3.19 years in 2017/18 to 5.28 years in 2021/22. The firm notes that this reflects HMRC’s focus on the most serious forms of tax fraud in recent times, including the establishment in 2015 of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service. As Andrew Sackey, partner at Pinsent Masons points out in reference to the Spring Budget 2023 proposal to double the maximum prison sentence for tax fraud: ‘A custodial sentence of up to 14 years will soon be possible, which will be an even stronger deterrent to committing tax fraud.’
Figures published by Pinsent Masons show that the average length of prison sentences for UK tax fraud has increased consistently over the last five tax years, from 3.19 years in 2017/18 to 5.28 years in 2021/22. The firm notes that this reflects HMRC’s focus on the most serious forms of tax fraud in recent times, including the establishment in 2015 of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service. As Andrew Sackey, partner at Pinsent Masons points out in reference to the Spring Budget 2023 proposal to double the maximum prison sentence for tax fraud: ‘A custodial sentence of up to 14 years will soon be possible, which will be an even stronger deterrent to committing tax fraud.’
