El Loro posted:You may have seen this on the BBC news:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-47756250/Criminals selling purchase invoices to people to use to claim tax relief and reclaim VAT.
Obviously illegal and those caught will get sent to prison, both those selling the invoices and those using them. Those using them when caught would have to explain how they paid for the invoices - what was the source of the cash used to pay them - that's how HMRC would challenge people as their declared income wouldn't explain it. Those using the invoices would, besides a prison sentence, would have to pay the underpaid tax + 100% penalties + interest. Those selling the invoices would, besides a prison sentence, face money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act as would thise using them, and the penalties would also include cash seizure.
People who do this, deserve to get caught.