In total, HMRC has named 128 deliberate tax defaulters, who have failed to pay a £24.3m in tax and penalties for the three months ending 25 September 2024, down from £33.9m for the previous period. The latest figures include £14.4m in unpaid tax and nearly £10m in penalties.

The top five tax evaders owed a total of £20.94m, split between £12,438,103 in unpaid tax and £8,511,321 penalties. The companies were Genius Pro Contract Services, Hebe & Huhet, Bridge Transport Services, Eastside Gas (Welwyn), and One Minute Security.

The biggest tax bill was owed by London based Genius Pro Contract Services Ltd, formerly known as SMP Contract Services, is an employment agency, which failed to comply with tax obligations from 1 Aug 2021 to 31 Oct 2022. It owed £6,246,147 in unpaid tax and a penalty of £4,372,302.90, bringing total tax liability to over £10m. Inevitably the business has now gone bust with a liquidator appointed in April 2024.