Elizabeth Murray, 64, of Drum Street, Stranraer, first aroused HMRC’s suspicions after a routine inspection of her company’s accounts found her to be using a de-registered VAT number.
Murray, an experienced bookkeeper who kept the financial accounts for her family haulage firm, charged VAT on the invoices she issued to customers, but kept the money rather passing it on to HMRC.
After a detailed inspection of the firm’s finances between January 2009 and March 2013, it emerged that Murray’s dodgy accounting had dishonestly made her £96,075.98.
She was sentenced at Stranraer Sheriff Court this week.
* Anyone with information about suspected tax fraud should contact the Customs’ Hotline on 0800 59 5000.
Businesswoman jailed for fraud
A BUSINESSWOMAN from the region who evaded over £96,000 in VAT has been jailed for a year after an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation into her company’s finances.
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