Tax man’s evidence to website fraud trial

A tax man told a jury he thought an alleged scam websitewas‘entrepreneurialbutnotinawayinwhich I approved’.

Guy Laser gave evidence in the trial of four businessmen accused of fraud over the taxreturngateway website, based in Sunderland.

Richard Hough, Michael Hughes, Jamie Wyatt, and Stephen Oliver, are alleged to have made more than £5million in five months from the site, whichofferedtohelpusers with their self-assessment tax returns.

Hundredsofuserscomplained they were misled into believing they were dealing directly with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs(HMRC),Teesside Crown Court heard.

Users thought fees of between £150 and £1,000 paid to the site would come off their tax bill, but it did not.

Mr Laser, described as HMRC’s‘processowner’for self-assessment, said dealingdirectwithHMRCatthe timeoftheallegedoffences in 2013 was ‘cumbersome’.

The court was told taxreturngateway advertised itself as being easier to use than the HMRC site because there was no need to register.

Mark Wyeeth QC, defending Wyatt, asked Mr Laser if he had looked at the taxreturngateway site.

“I did look at it,” said Mr Glynn. “I would describe it as entrepreneurial, but not in a way in which I approved.”

The defendants claim the site offered a legitimate ‘check and send’ service, and it was clear from disclaimers on the home page it was not an official HMRC site.

Wyatt, 27, and Hughes, 26, both of Peartree Rise, Seaton, Seaham, Oliver, 47, of The Folly, West Boldon, andHough,43,ofKettering, Northants, each deny conspiracytodefraudbetween June, 2013, and June, 2014.

Wyatt, Hughes, and Oliver deny a second charge of conspiringtodefraudbydenyingconsumerstherightto cancel under distance selling regulations.