This in from the MHRC, in their own words. Ed
The former co-owner of an American themed diner on Carisbrooke Road, Newport on the Isle of Wight, who lied about his business’ turnover to reduce its tax bill, has been jailed for ten months.
Ian Rawlings-Cawtheray, 39, from Newport, provided false information about the restaurant’s finances to reduce its VAT bill, and in doing so cut Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions payments for him and his wife, who was not involved with the fraud.
£54,000 tax fraud
The £54,000 tax fraud was discovered as part of a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Restaurant Taskforce, targeting South East restaurateurs suspected of not paying the correct tax.
After visiting the premises in Newport, HMRC examined till receipts and the diner’s cash register finding inconsistencies with what Rawlings-Cawtheray had declared on tax returns.
John Cooper, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:
“Ian Rawlings-Cawtheray assumed he could simply lie about his business turnover to reduce his tax bill – defrauding taxpayers in the process, but we proved otherwise.
“Fraud is unfair to honest businesses and to taxpayers; it is only right that we should clampdown on this type of crime. Anyone with information about tax fraud can call the Tax Evasion Hotline on 0800 788 887.”
Ten months in prison
Rawlings-Cawtheray pleaded guilty at Newport (IOW) Crown Court on 3 July 2015, and was sentenced at the same court on 4 September 2015 to ten months in prison.
He has already repaid £20,000. Confiscation will be sought to recover the rest of the money owed.
The business is under new management who are in no way connected with this fraud
