Monday 18th November, 2013

A bankrupt Scottish printer, who admitted faking invoices to steal nearly £500,000 in VAT refunds, has been jailed after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The 63 year old man from Rothesay, was arrested after he inflated his claims by giving false invoices and receipts to his accountant and HMRC.

The claims were made for seven years even though he was declared bankrupt in 2004. He pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming £485,954.83 and attempting to claim a further £64,453.10 between 2000 and 2007. He also pleaded guilty to laundering £85,876.31.

Anne-Marie Gordon, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:

“This was an organised fraud, making huge profits for Miller. He knew that by stealing VAT he was breaking the law. But he took the opportunity to make what he wrongly assumed would be easy money, at the expense of the UK taxpayer. He now has to pay a high price for his criminal activities.