Derby Accountant Jailed for Tax Fraud

A Derby accountant has been jailed for 16 months after defrauding the government out of £65,000 in tax returns.

Stephen Douce, 59, of ACA Accountancy Services Ltd, swindled the government out of thousands by suppressing income for himself and his wife on their self-assessment returns, illegally claiming tax credits for two years and pocketing VAT that he was charging his clients for over five years.

Stuart Taylor, assistant director of criminal investigations at HMRC, said:

"As an accountant Douce was in a position of trust and well aware that he was breaking the law. He chose to do this for the opportunity of making what he wrongly assumed would be easy money, at the expense of UK taxpayers.

"He now has to pay the price for his criminal activities."

Mr Douce was claiming an annual household income of just £4,500 per annum for both himself and his wife, when in fact the true figure was more than £56,000. He also evaded income tax and national insurance contributions of over £18,000 and falsely claimed over £14,000 in tax credits.

If you've been accused or charged with an offence of tax fraud, contact our criminal solicitors on 01332 370 473 for advice.

The Johnson Partnership

Criminal Solicitors