HMRC targets VAT fraud

In the latest example of its crackdown on VAT fraud, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) last week announced the successful prosecution of a Birmingham man who had stolen £133,500 by charging his customers VAT but not passing it on to the Revenue.

Christopher Prime was a director of Eurobrew, which provided a specialist maintenance service to breweries around the UK, including in Dudley, Hereford and Peterborough. According to HMRC, Prime did not register for VAT throughout his period of trading - April 2009 to July 2011 - but sent invoices to customers showing an invalid VAT registration number. When the invoices were paid, Prime pocketed the VAT.

Prime was arrested on 14th September 2012 and later charged with VAT evasion under the VAT Act 1994.

HMRC is in the process of tackling tax evasion throughout the UK, using taskforces to target specific sectors. Last week, for example, a team of HMRC officers targeted towns in the North East of Scotland, including Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Mintlaw.

They were part of a taskforce focusing on tax evasion across the Scottish fishing industry. The taskforce is expected to recover £3.6 million.

If you have been charged with tax evasion and require specialist legal advice from our criminal defence solicitors, contact us today.