HMRC invited anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to call its ‘tax evasion hotline’ as it announced that a plumber who pleaded guilty to fraudulent tax evasion – contrary to the Taxes Management Act 1970 – had been jailed for 12 months.
HMRC invited anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to call its ‘tax evasion hotline’ as it announced that a plumber who pleaded guilty to fraudulent tax evasion – contrary to the Taxes Management Act 1970 – had been jailed for 12 months.
Kingston Crown Court heard that Melvyn Careswell, aged 49, of Poplar Crescent, Epsom, Surrey, set up a company, MPC Heating and Plumbing.
‘He traded as a self employed plumber, but never registered his earnings with HMRC. Investigators discovered that over a five-year period he evaded around £50,000 of income tax,’ HMRC said. Confiscation proceedings are ‘under way’.
Chris Martin, HMRC Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, said: ‘Careswell stole from UK taxpayers by failing to pay tax due on his earnings and now he must face the consequences of his actions in jail.
‘HMRC is clamping down on plumbers and those in other trades who attempt to commit tax evasion, and the sentence given to Careswell will act as a deterrent. I ask anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to call the tax evasion hotline on 0800 788 887.’
Plumbers, gas fitters and heating engineers who signed up to HMRC’s Plumbers Tax Safe Plan have paid over £4m in outstanding tax. ‘It really is better for people who owe tax to come to HMRC, before we come and find you,’ said Mike Wells, HMRC Director of Risk and Intelligence Services.
This news story was first published on 27 July 2012
HMRC invited anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to call its ‘tax evasion hotline’ as it announced that a plumber who pleaded guilty to fraudulent tax evasion – contrary to the Taxes Management Act 1970 – had been jailed for 12 months.
HMRC invited anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to call its ‘tax evasion hotline’ as it announced that a plumber who pleaded guilty to fraudulent tax evasion – contrary to the Taxes Management Act 1970 – had been jailed for 12 months.
Kingston Crown Court heard that Melvyn Careswell, aged 49, of Poplar Crescent, Epsom, Surrey, set up a company, MPC Heating and Plumbing.
‘He traded as a self employed plumber, but never registered his earnings with HMRC. Investigators discovered that over a five-year period he evaded around £50,000 of income tax,’ HMRC said. Confiscation proceedings are ‘under way’.
Chris Martin, HMRC Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, said: ‘Careswell stole from UK taxpayers by failing to pay tax due on his earnings and now he must face the consequences of his actions in jail.
‘HMRC is clamping down on plumbers and those in other trades who attempt to commit tax evasion, and the sentence given to Careswell will act as a deterrent. I ask anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to call the tax evasion hotline on 0800 788 887.’
Plumbers, gas fitters and heating engineers who signed up to HMRC’s Plumbers Tax Safe Plan have paid over £4m in outstanding tax. ‘It really is better for people who owe tax to come to HMRC, before we come and find you,’ said Mike Wells, HMRC Director of Risk and Intelligence Services.
This news story was first published on 27 July 2012
