Legal advice firm is fined over VAT bill

A BURSCOUGH legal advice firm has been fined £7,650, 14 months after receiving an initial sixfigure demand from Revenue & Customs.

RTA Legal Advice was prosecuted at Chorley Magistrates’ Court on Friday, February 2.

Scott Jamieson, the firm’s director, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to failing to pay the tax office £127,000 as a security for any VAT which was, or may have become, owed by the firm.

HMRC requested the money in a notice on November 10, 2016. The company did not pay but continued to trade.

Prosecuting, Adrian Hollamby said the demand for payment had been made as a result of previous delays in the company paying its tax bills. He added that it is a criminal offence to continue trading without paying the money. Although the initial request was for £127,000, the prosecution only requested £7,650 in compensation, to cover the actual tax due.

The original charge had been made against Mr Jamieson, 36, of Sussex Road, Southport, but the prosecution and defence agreed immediately before the hearing to amend the charge to be made against the company instead. Mr Jamieson was acquitted of the same charge.

Defending, Mr Stanbury offered the only mitigation that Mr Jamieson had been on paternity leave at the time of the notice being issued.

RTA Legal Advice was ordered to pay compensation of £7,650 and costs of £85.

Mr Jamieson will receive defence costs in relation to the initial charge brought against him.