A Derbyshire farmer, who evaded more than £70,000 of Income Tax contributions, has avoided jail.
62-year-old Barbara Wayne from Grange Mill, Matlock, Derbyshire pleaded guilty Derby Crown Court to three charges, including:
- Knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of Income Tax;
- Fraudulently evading National Insurance contributions;
- Dishonestly failing to disclose information to make a gain for self.
An HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation revealed Wayne deliberately hid her income as a farmer for six years between 2011 and 2017.
During that time she was found to have stolen £73,752 of Income Tax and National Insurance by failing to submit Self Assessment returns to HMRC.
Wayne stole the money by lying about her income, and pocketing VAT she had fraudulently charged customers for her labour as a self-employed farmer and milk tester.
Wayne admitted the fraud at Derby Crown Court on March 1, 2019. On Tuesday (April 30), she was handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, at the same court.
HMRC has now begun proceedings to reclaim the stolen tax.
Wayne was handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years and a three-month curfew.
Information about any type of tax fraud can be reported online or by calling the HMRC Fraud Hotline on: 0800-788-887.
