A scaffolding company director has been sentenced for almost £100,000 tax fraud that she tried to blame on an innocent employee.
An HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation found that AIM Access Solutions Ltd director, Amanda Noble, lied on her VAT returns. She had submitted more than 40 false invoices to evade paying £98,000 from her company.
The VAT returns for the Liverpool-based business included many invoices for work falsely claimed as zero-rated, so no VAT was paid.
According to The Business Desk investigators from HMRC questioned Noble about the problem, but she insisted an employee dealt with the VAT returns and she never looked at them. It was revealed she had lied about the employee.
She admitted making the false VAT submissions and said it was initially a genuine mistake but continued making the false claims to keep the money with the intention of repaying HMRC once the business was in better financial health.
She paid the VAT after HMRC launched a criminal investigation and uncovered the fraud.
“She shamelessly tried to blame an entirely innocent employee.
“Noble only paid the tax due when she became subject to a criminal investigation.”
He added: “We will ensure the honest majority are not cheated by tax fraudsters, like Noble. Anyone with information about tax fraud can report it to HMRC online or call us on 0800 788 887.”
Noble admitted the fraud at Liverpool Magistrates Court on September 4, 2018. She was sentenced to 16 months in jail, suspended for two years, at Liverpool Crown Court. And also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work with a 10-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
The full amount owed to HMRC has now been repaid.
