A 68 year-old accountant from Merseyside, who didn’t pay any tax for 5 years, has been convicted of tax evasion and tax fraud; although his prison sentence was suspended.

David Eric Ellis was a sole trader qualified accountant (trading on the Wirral as Ellis and Co Accountants).  He had filed tax returns and paid his tax from 1985 to April 2009.  Then he simply stopped filing his own tax returns: even though he was filing Self-Assessment Returns, VAT returns, Corporation Tax Returns, company accounts, and PAYE returns for clients throughout that period.

A tax investigation proved that Ellis owed £37,646 for his personal tax and £10,320 National Insurance and Income Tax for his employees.

Ellis pleaded guilty to 6 counts of tax evasion and 1 count of failing to supply and concealing information from HMRC with intent to defraud. Ellis was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years; plus a six-month curfew.

An HMRC Fraud Investigation Service spokesperson said: “There is no excuse if you are a financial professional – HMRC will not tolerate fraud by accountants.”

How Could Lynam Tax Enquiry Experts Help Me?
We have decades of extensive practical experience in managing tax disclosures and tax fraud investigations.  If you have irregularities in your tax affairs we can advise you on your best course of action.  If appropriate, we will help you with any disclosure.  If you are already under criminal investigation we can assist in the preparation of the defence case.  We can help get the best possible outcome for you, your business and your family.

*For a free, private, no obligation consultation, call

Paul Lynam: 0845 643 9997

Andrew Nutbrown: 07718 778710