HMRC uncovers untaxed money in grave
Businessman planned to leave £140,000 in his aunt's grave for twenty years to avoid paying tax, but the taxman obtained permission to dig it up
A businessman planned to leave £140,000 in his aunt’s grave for 20 years to
avoid tax.
Tax inspectors were tipped off and obtained permission from the priest to
recover their £50,000 share. The unnamed man was going to leave the money in the
grave up to the time limit for tax investigations, reported The Sun.
Dave Hartnett, permanent secretary for tax, said: “Tax evasion isn’t a
victimless crime. But we’re getting better at catching cheats. It’s not worth
the risk.”
It was disclosed in April that the HM Revenue & Customs has paid
informers £437,000 in return for tip-offs since 2007, and prosecutes around 200
people a year for tax evasion.
Investigators announced a crackdown on middle-class professionals earlier
this year, with doctors already under greater scrutiny.
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