Montpelier’s Gittins charged with Gift Aid fraud

THE director of an accountancy firm Montpelier has appeared in court after being charged  with a £1m gift aid tax relief fraud.

Isle of Man resident Edward Watkin Gittins the sole director of Montpelier Professional, which trades as Montpelier Chartered Accountants which has has offices in Manchester and Preston as well as the Isel of Man, appeared at the City of London Magistrates Court today alongside former colleague Martin Calcutt.

The pair are alleged to have abused tax relief that allows individuals making gifts to charity to offset the market value of the gifts against their tax liabilities. It is also alleged that Mr Gittins designed the scheme while he and former colleague Martin Calcutt implemented it. Mr Calcutt has also been charged with forgery.

Until 2012 Montpelier’s registered office was in Manchester but it then moved to Colburn Business Park in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

The pair  each faced a charge of Cheat contrary to Common Law. Mr Calcutt faced an additional charge of forgery, contrary to section 1 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

Jaswant Narwal, deputy head of fraud at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs, we have authorised charges against two individuals in connection with a tax relief fraud that allegedly cost the public revenue in the region of £1m.

“It is alleged that, between 29 March 2004 and 16 February 2007.”