Two restaurant owners from Glasgow have been detained on suspicion of failing to pay the right amount of VAT, in an investigation by HMRC.
One business and three domestic premises were visited in Glasgow on 16th April as part of the ongoing taskforce operation targeting restaurants across Scotland. A production order for business records was also served on the accountants for this business.
The taskforces are specialist teams that are undertaking intensive bursts of compliance activity targeting specific high risk trade sectors and locations across the UK.
Pauline Younger, Taskforce Lead for Restaurants in Scotland, said:
"Taskforces come down hard on restaurants that have deliberately chosen to break the rules and evade the taxes they should be paying. These raids and detention of people suspected of not declaring income from the work they do are part of co-ordinated activity targeting the restaurant trade in Scotland.
"Honest businesses have absolutely nothing to worry about. But if you are deliberately seeking to evade tax, HMRC can and will track you down. You will then face not only a heavy fine, but possibly a criminal prosecution as well."
One restaurant and three private addresses were visited. One man and one woman were detained, interviewed then released. Investigations are ongoing.