Solicitor jailed for £60k tax fraud!

A criminal defence solicitor, who lied about his income to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to steal more than £60,000 in a tax fraud, has been jailed for 18 months.

Azhar Islam Khan, 45, of Pinner, Greater London, failed to declare the shareholder dividend income from his business and the rental income he received from two properties in Blackburn and Preston on his tax returns.

HMRC’s investigation revealed Khan withdrew money from his law firm but lied in his accounts, recording the transactions as ‘professional fees’.

Investigators also discovered that he paid for a new kitchen and bathroom for his home from the company bank account, recorded as business expenses.

Khan, who chose not to give any evidence at his four week trial, was found guilty of Income Tax evasion and cheating the public revenue on 31 January 2017. He was jailed for 18 months at Harrow Crown Court on 24 February 2017 and suspended from holding company directorships for four years.

HMRC has started the process to recover his criminal proceeds.