This is the fifth time HMRC has published the names and details of individuals who have been penalised for not paying tax due, as part of the government’s crackdown on tax evasion.  The list gives the names of all those who have failed to pay more than £25,000 of tax owing and the media is free to name and shame as they think fit.

Of the 15 names on February’s list, the largest penalty was paid by a London-based wholesaler supplying alcohol who was fined £188,000, as much as the tax which he owed.  The total tax due from all those named amounted to around £630,000.

Phil Berwick, partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: ‘The high level of penalties imposed by HMRC suggest a serious lack of co-operation by the taxpayer. It may also indicate that the taxpayer has failed to obtain specialist advice, or even any advice, when challenged by HMRC.’

IT supplier Direct Ink Ltd, based in Northampton, faced fines of over £79,000 on tax owing of £165,000, while a Coventry-based courier racked up nearly £54,000 in penalties.

 A double glazing salesman from Luton was fined some £27,000 for failure to pay taxes due on over £50,000 of commission payments and the Nuad Thai massage parlour in Ealing faced around £27,000 in penalties. The owner of a takeway based in Fife which traded as ‘Master Chef’ was served up with a £16,600 bill.

Ronnie Ludwig, head of the private wealth group at Saffery Champness, said: ‘Being publicly exposed as a defaulter of tax could result in a significant loss of business as well as payment of substantial penalties to HMRC. Far better to come clean voluntarily and prepare a full disclosure before the taxman comes knocking.’