CSA and HMRC Fraud – how does he get away with it?

Strangefrontier

My apologies for the essay below, but I figured it was easier to detail as much as possible:


Anyway, my ex is paying Child Maintenance Payments through the CSA because he had refused to make any voluntary payments himself. I work part time and my money is topped up slightly with Tax Credits – to which he claims that I am already being paid to support our child, so why should he contribute? Great attitude, hey?
The contribution that I receive is reduced due to the fact that he has outstanding debt with the CSA for a child that he had 20 years ago and also refused to pay maintenance for – moving from one address and employment to another to avoid contact!

We are still going through Divorce proceedings – which has been dragged out due to him demanding a totally unreasonable sum of money as settlement for the house – knowing that I wouldn’t be able to afford to buy him out! He threatened to “see me penniless and ensure that I ended up in the gutter – homeless”. Suffice to say it went to a final hearing at court and he agreed to settle just before going before the judge!

During this period, finances on both sides have had to be declared and he stated that he was about to start a part time 2nd job – doing 6 hrs p/w only, at minimum wage rate. However, my Dad and numerous friends work in the same industry as this 2nd job and have confirmed that he is actually doing a minimum of 24 hrs over the weekend period at an hourly rate of £8 – increasing to time-and-a-half on Bank Holidays! However, his wage slips are only declaring the above stated 6 hrs at minimum wage rate! His true hours and pay rate have also been confirmed by someone working in the offices of this 2nd job, who also confirmed that a number of employees there are paid “cash in hand” – but this guy refuses to make a statement for fear of retaliation and/or losing his job!

In addition to earning in excess of £800 p/w at his 2nd job, more than £600 of which is undeclared to the CSA . . . . it is also undeclared to HMRC. It has crossed my mind to notify HMRC of his fraudulent activities, but as far as I am aware HMRC generally only investigate a person/company of high profile, whereby they are guaranteed to recuperate their investigative expenses through back payments and fines. So unless you are a ‘professional’ working for a multi-million £ company, you can get away with ripping the HMRC off as it is not worth their time and effort in pursuing it . . . . Unless you are in receipt of Tax Credits of course because they are in a position to swap and change your payments on a monthly basis to introduce new policies of gaining back money that they have lost through the likes of my ex!!!


Now, don’t get me wrong . . . . . I am not some bitter old ex whom is looking for revenge by bleeding him dry of every penny that he has, and/or having his ‘so called’ b*lls removed and put on a stake for all to see – although the latter image is very appealing!
I actually take great satisfaction in the fact that his measly financial contribution of £35 p/w buys very little these days and therefore i am the sole provider – so we owe him nothing! I refuse to become a statistical benefit lay-about, although I admit to being reliant on Tax Credits due to Nursery Fees being that extortionate that I would actually be worse off financially if I returned to full time employment before my son starts school.
In the meantime, I go without a life of my own to ensure that my son wants for nothing (within reason of course).


My gripe is that while he is getting away with illegally and fraudulently taking home approx. £2000 p/m and only financially contributing £150 p/m for our son, the rest of us appear to be being p*ssed on from a very great height for being honest, hard working individuals whom are forced into sacrificing everything for their kids because a number of ex’s are too selfish to take responsibility for their actions.
I would not gain from the HMRC investigating his fraudulent earnings, as he would probably be liable for a huge fine, back payments and/or a prison sentence – resulting in him becoming unemployed and therefore not contributing anything financially . . . . but I admit that I would get great satisfaction in the knowledge that there is justice, crime doesn’t pay and that what goes around, comes around!

I just cannot get my head round the fact that there is absolutely nothing anyone can/will do to investigate my claims that he is actually breaking the law and getting away with it!

DX2

Strangefrontier wrote: »

I just cannot get my head round the fact that there is absolutely nothing anyone can/will do to investigate my claims that he is actually breaking the law and getting away with it!

Have you actually done anything? From my understanding of your post it's all hearsay with regards to what HMRC will or won't do.
Phone HMRC, phone CSA and see what they say.

EclipsedMind

You could read http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tax-evasion/index.htm
And then maybe call

Tax Evasion Hotline
Freephone 0800 788 887

Whether they decide to act on it is up to them but at least you will have reported the crime.

EM

Strangefrontier

DX2 wrote: »

Have you actually done anything? From my understanding of your post it's all hearsay with regards to what HMRC will or won't do.
Phone HMRC, phone CSA and see what they say.

My Solicitors, Barristers and CSA are all aware of my allogations with regards to him lying about his 2nd job - but they claim there is nothing that they can do! Short of me hiring a private investigator and/or getting this office worker to come forward, then there is no proof! It would only take one person to observe and record how long he works to proove what he is doing!

I have been advised that the Tax Evasion Team were alerted to the companies fraudulant activities just over 4 months ago - but nothing appears to have happened . . . . which reitterates my point about HMRC getting nothing out of any investigation due to the size of the company!

It's almost like all the authorities (including legal authorities) are just turning a blind eye and therefore condoning illegal behaviour!
To be honest, i haven't got a problem with anyone doing anything illegal - it's their choice and their gamble . . . . i'm hardly an angel myself. However, it's the lying and deceit that i cannot condone with regards to not wanting to support his own son!

Caroline_a

My ex refused to pay anything for his daughter, and I used the CSA to try to get something for her - in desperation I eventually contacted my MP, who jumped on the CSA from a great height, and then I did get some action (although by then my ex was out of work, so I still got nothing), but this might be a start for you.

System

24 hours @ £8 p/h = £192
Assume a bank holiday and doing 12 hours on the bank holiday as well as the 24 on the weekend gives
24*8 plus 12*12 =£336

To get £800 per week he would need to work 75-100 hours per week ABOVE his normal job! The majority of people would burn out very quickly at that rate.