A COURIER company boss from Worcester has been jailed for more than two years after stealing more than £83,000 by submitting fraudulent VAT returns for six years.
Anthony Howlett was caught submitting false VAT returns between 2010 and 2016, following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Howlett, 60, carried out the fraud in his role as a director of three courier and freight firms, based in Worcester and Tewkesbury. He was jailed for 27 months yesterday (Friday) after pleading guilty at Worcester Crown Court on April 8.
Howlett claimed more than £139,772 in VAT repayments and HMRC investigators discovered that only £56,519 of those claims were legitimate. HMRC also withheld more than £8,000 of the claims whilst checks were carried out.
HMRC will now look to recover the stolen money.
Visit www.gov.uk/report-an-unregistered-trader-or-business or call 0800 788 887 to report any type of tax fraud.
