The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals ……………………………………………………………Policy News Journal
Jail sentence for creating false payslips 20 March 2017
A director and his ex-wife have been jailed for six years and nine months for stealing £815,000 tax, National Insurance and VAT.
The director of a fire safety and security firm and his ex-wife, have been jailed for a total of six years and nine months for stealing £815,000 tax, National Insurance and VAT after they were investigated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The two-pronged attack on the tax system saw Donna Howard (43), steal £283,713 in Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions (NIC) from the unsuspecting employees of her former husband’s business, Motherwell based MDH Fire and Security Services Limited. The HMRC investigation also revealed that over a three year period the Howards were guilty of charging customers more than £530,000 in VAT using fictitious and de-registered VAT numbers but kept the money. Donna gave the frauds a veneer of legitimacy by creating false payslips and paperwork. Investigators found that instead of paying the tax, the money was used to fund Michael and Donna’s lifestyles. The couple shared a £400,000 house in Motherwell and enjoyed luxurious trips abroad.
Action to recover the evaded taxes is now underway.
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Tackling the hidden economy with Conditionality – summary of responses 22 March 2017
HMRC have published their response to the consultation that looked at conditionality as a method of tackling the hidden economy.
The consultation had discussed the principle of conditionality, which would involve making access to licences or services needed to trade conditional upon tax registration. It explored how conditionality could reduce activity in the hidden economy.
The summary of responses lists the further steps needed which will see:
Government work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders in order to develop further policy proposals on conditionality. This will include work with providers of licences and services, as well as businesses, individuals and their representatives to identify the sectors in which conditionality could be most effective. The government will aim to identify an approach which has the maximum positive effect upon those operating in the hidden economy, whilst minimising burdens upon compliant customers, licensing bodies and service providers. Any legislation to implement conditionality will be preceded by further policy development, testing and consultation with those likely to be affected.
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HMRC publishes customer service data 3 April 2017
HMRC customer service data shows that in January the average speed of answering a customer call was three minutes, over a one minute improvement on December and well ahead of the six minute target.
HMRC publishes a monthly summary on GOV.UK of how they have performed against customer service targets on digital services, telephone answering, post-handling and responding to complaints.
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
Policy News Journal
cipp.org.uk
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