HMRC knows (almost) everything

‘Doctor sentenced for tax fraud’, ‘Tax fraud GP is struck off for persistent dishonesty’, and ‘Belfast doctor Francis Gerard D’Arcy fined £230,000 for tax fraud’. These are all headlines that illustrate that some in the medical profession have been a little less than honest. Granted none relate to optometry, but maybe that means His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can still find the odd rotten apple. 

Hiding income from HMRC is illegal and can lead to serious penalties and possibly prison. Indeed, this is where former Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi came a cropper, as did Lester Piggott in 1987 after a conviction for failing to declare income of around £3m.