HMRC names and shames more than 150 high street businesses deliberately avoiding taxes

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has publicly named more than 150 businesses and individuals across Britain after they deliberately failed to meet their tax obligations.

The tax authority published its latest list of deliberate tax defaulters on Thursday, with 43 businesses and individuals based in London receiving combined penalties totalling £4.8million.

A further 12 Scottish businesses were included on the register, alongside firms and individuals from across the rest of the United Kingdom.

Each of those named deliberately failed to pay at least £25,000 in tax and did not make a full disclosure after HMRC opened an investigation.

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The publication of the list marks the latest step in the Government's efforts to tackle tax evasion, with the names of those identified remaining publicly available for the next 12 months.

The latest register includes a range of high street businesses, including takeaway restaurants, convenience stores and electronic cigarette retailers.

Each of the businesses named accumulated unpaid tax liabilities of more than £25,000 before being investigated by HMRC.

Those identified could have avoided being publicly named if they had fully cooperated with HMRC investigators during the enquiry process.

By failing to make a full disclosure, they lost the opportunity to keep their identities confidential.

The published list relates solely to civil penalties and does not include businesses or individuals convicted of criminal tax offences.

Among the Scottish businesses named, Muirhead Farm in East Ayrshire received the largest penalty of £139,042, while Bubble Treats in Dunfermline was fined £98,677 for offences committed over a two-year period.

Kevin Hubbard, director of small business and individuals at HMRC, said: "Too many high streets have businesses that are undercutting their honest neighbours by failing to pay the tax they owe.

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"That is unfair to compliant businesses and to the communities they serve, and we are determined to tackle it.

"Among those named are takeaways, convenience stores and other high street businesses from across the UK — a reminder that HMRC's work to tackle non-compliance reaches into every part of the country."

The tax authority intends to carry out more than 30,000 interventions targeting tax evasion and other criminal activity involving high street businesses.

As part of the programme, additional HMRC staff will be deployed to visit retail premises across the country.

Investigators will also target rogue company directors who attempt to avoid paying tax by closing one business before opening another.

The names of all deliberate tax defaulters included in the latest publication will remain publicly available for 12 months.

HMRC said the policy is intended to deter deliberate tax evasion while helping to protect compliant businesses from unfair competition and ensuring businesses pay the tax they owe.

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