A pizza delivery driver from Ellesmere Port, who faked his pay, tax and job expenses in an attempt to falsely claim more than £60,000 in tax repayments, has been jailed for 16 months following an HMRC investigation
HMRC described claims made by Neil Felsbergs on his self assessment tax returns as ‘outlandish’. Investigators found he had submitted 12 versions of his tax returns to trigger the refunds.
The fraudulent claims totalled £60,871. As well as manipulating his online t tax returns to increase his tax rebates for five years, Felsbergs was found to have claimed mileage expenses as a delivery driver for Domino’s Pizza for tax years 2010-2011 to 2014-2015 on the returns, despite only being employed by them between 2012 and 2015.
He also falsified his work history and income for previous jobs at Chester Zoo and Dixons Retail.
Felsbergs pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court. HMRC withheld more than £15,000 of his tax repayments and will now start proceedings to recover the remainder.
Sandra Smith, assistant director, fraud investigation service, HMRC, said: ‘Felsbergs attempted to line his own pockets by making multiple online claims, which all proved bogus. HMRC takes tax fraud extremely seriously and anyone choosing to evade their taxes or make deliberate attacks on the public purse can face prosecution, a criminal record and jail.’
