Tax Evasion Help
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Firstly, What is Tax Evasion?
Tax evasion refers to the deliberate concealment or under declaration of monies for the purposes of avoiding tax. In the UK tax evasion is considered an extremely serious crime. The maximum penalty for tax evasion in the UK is 7 years imprisonment.
However, this can be avoided – even in the most serious cases. At T M Sterling we offer a HMRC procedure that can be used to guarantee complete immunity from criminal prosecution. The procedure also means that you will need to have little or no direct contact with HMRC during the process.
If you’d like to discuss your case in more detail, please get in touch today for a free initial consultation. We’ll talk you through the various options and implement immunity from criminal prosecution if we feel that your situation warrants it.
Code of Practice 9 and the Contract Disclosure Facility
‘Code of practice 9’ is the procedure under which HMRC’s manages the ‘Contract Disclosure Facility’ (CDF). The CDF offers complete and guaranteed immunity from criminal prosecution in return for a full an honest disclosure of all tax irregularities – both deliberate and non-deliberate.
If you’d like to learn more about the COP9 CDF process, please click here for more detailed information.
It’s recommended by HMRC that you appoint a representative, such as T M Sterling for example, to act on your behalf and to manage the CDF process. Failure to efficiently manage the process could mean that you lose the protection from criminal prosecution that the CDF offers.
UK Tax Evasion – Criminal Investigations
If HMRC has reason to suspect that you have committed tax evasion, and you are not protected by the CDF, then it may choose to commence a criminal investigation. This is not to be confused with a traditional HMRC tax investigation, which is less serious. However, once HMRC has started a criminal investigation it’s too late to apply for immunity under Code of Practice 9.
At this stage HMRC will start building evidence to support a criminal trial, with a view to achieving a prosecution. The potential for a criminal record and heavy fine or imprisonment is very often the motivation for people to contact us. However, at this point it’s too late.
Tax Evasion – Next Steps
Clearly, it’s up utmost importance that professional advice is sought sooner rather than later. If you think that you may have committed tax evasion, then call or email us today for a free initial consultation.