Jaguar Land Rover worker in £70k 'Tommy's Tax' HMRC scam which 'everyone else was doing'

Father-of-five Andrew Bell, aged 56, from Solihull, claimed 'everyone one else' at Jaguar Land Rover was committing the same expenses fraud that he was

A Jaguar Land Rover worker carried out a £70,000 income tax fraud which 'everyone else' at the firm was supposedly doing as well. Andrew Bell, aged 56, registered for self assessment with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and claimed business expenses when he was not eligible to do either.

The father-of-five, from Mappleborough Road, Solihull, referred to the scheme as 'Tommy's Tax'. JLR has rebuffed the idea it was a widespread issue within the workface. The manufacturing giant told Birmingham Live a 'small number of employees acted on independent third-party tax advice', but they confirmed an internal investigation was ongoing.

Bell admitted being knowingly concerned in the evasion of income tax between October 2020 and May 2023. But he was spared jail at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, October 8 after a judge ruled 'what society needs more than anything' was for him to repay the money. Bell was sentenced to 22 months, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work.

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Lachlan Stewart, prosecuting, said: "This case involves the defendant fraudulently asserting to HMRC in an income self assessment that he was incurring business expenses when he was not, in order to reduce the income tax he has to pay. He was not eligible for self assessment nor to claim business expenses in this way."

Bell submitted four forms in which he lied about the expenses he had supposedly incurred. It resulted in a £50,676.07 rebate and the evasion of £19,459.80 worth of income tax in 2021 and 2022.

The court was told that HMRC wrote to Bell about the discrepancies, inviting him to reply and warning he could face criminal investigation but he failed to respond by its deadline. However he later contacted them to say he would set up a repayment plan.

Mr Stewart said: "He was interviewed and gave an account making a partial admission. He said he was part of a tax return scheme others at JLR had engaged in. He was quite right. He's not the only one.

"He accepts he probably knew it was wrong. It is not correct he had no knowledge (of) what was being done. He used his email address and telephone number. He accepts it was for spending money.

"Clearly other employees were doing it. It would appear the defendant was under the influence or was guided in some way by a third party."

Jonathan Duffy, defending, confirmed staff referred to the scheme as 'Tommy's Tax', adding: "A financial advisor of sorts who was encouraging people who worked for Jaguar Land Rover to commit this fraud. The defendant sees that for what it is.

"At the time the culture at the company was this was too good to be true. He allowed his normal standards of attention to lapse. He did what everyone else was doing."

The barrister confirmed Bell was a married father-of-five who still worked at JLR. He told the court between 2021 and 2023 he lost one of his parents and both of his wife's. Mr Duffy said: "He lost his focus with everything going on, supporting his wife and family during that period. It was during Covid.

"It probably doesn't amount to mitigation but perhaps enables the court to understand why an otherwise law-abiding, hard-working family man should take his eyes off the ball as he did."

Mr Duffy said Bell was not the organiser of the illegal scheme and became caught up in 'heard activity'. Judge Laura Hobson, passing sentence, told him: "Over the period of indictment you cheated the public purse out of over £70,000. Your period of offending coincides with a time when public finances were in dire straits as a result of the pandemic.

"All of those lucky enough to be working, as you were, and earning, as you were, paid taxes and contributed to the country's recovery." She continued: "It maybe everybody else was doing this but it doesn't make it right. It's no excuse. You weren't forced into it. You're not a vulnerable person easily led into doing this. You made a choice.

"Your motive was pure greed, trying to get something for nothing. During this period you experienced a number of bereavements. I accept you perhaps were not making the most sensible decisions in your life during this period."

Judge Hobson added: "Sending you to prison will have a devastating impact on your family and result in the loss of your employment. I also take the view what society needs more than anything from you is for you to repay the money you defrauded from the public purse. I'm prepared to give you a chance Mr Bell."

In a statement JLR said: "We are aware of an issue regarding a small number of employees who acted on independent third-party tax advice, relating to their personal affairs. As the issue relates to JLR employees, an internal investigation was raised and is ongoing."

Birmingham Live has approached the HMRC for further comment .