Montpelier director charged over major £1m tax fraud
THE director of an accountancy firm with a registered office in Yorkshire has been charged over a major fraudulent tax scheme.
Isle of Man resident Edward Watkin Gittins, the sole director of Montpelier Professional, which trades as Montpelier Accountants, appeared in court today charged over an alleged £1m tax relief fraud.
He is 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 Gittins designed the scheme while he and former colleague Martin Calcutt implemented it. Calcutt has also been charged with forgery.
Until 2012 Montpelier’s registered office was in Manchester but moved to North Yorkshire.
The firm has offices in the Borders, North West and Yorkshire. The Leeds operation is the former Buckle Barton operation in Horsforth.
Gittins and Calcutt 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 March 29 2004 and February 16 2007, Edward Watkin Gittins, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and an Isle of Man resident, and Martin Calcutt, a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, cheated the public revenue by abusing tax relief that allows individuals making gifts to charity to offset the market value of the gifts against their tax liabilities. It is alleged that Mr Watkin Gittins designed the scheme while he and Calcutt both implemented it.
“It is also alleged that forged documents were supplied in order to induce HMRC to grant their claim for tax relief.
“Edward Watkin Gittins and Martin Calcutt each face a charge of Cheat contrary to Common Law. Mr Calcutt faces an additional charge of forgery, contrary to section 1 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.
“This decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.”
