PPI call centre boss and his accountant jailed in £2.3m HMRC tax probe

The director of a Basingstoke call centre business and an accountant, have been jailed for a total of seven-and-a-half years after a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation into a £2.3m income tax, National Insurance and VAT fraud.

HMRC found that David Buckley, 51, stole PAYE deductions from employees and VAT whilst he was the managing director of Compensation Professionals Network Ltd between 2008 and 2012.

The call centre employed around 100 people to buy and sell leads for personal injury and PPI claims. Buckley hired Swansea-based accountant Mahmood Sadiq Poptani, 60, in 2011.

Investigators found that instead of paying the taxes due, Buckley bought shares in other businesses and propped up his own failing company. Poptani played a crucial role in the illegal movement of money from Compensation Professionals Network Ltd and sent £453,000 overseas.

Daren Cooley, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “HMRC is committed to ensuring all companies and individuals pay the right tax at the right time and we will pursue those who fail to do so. We used our criminal powers to uncover Buckley’s significant failure as a managing director. He knew what was owed and when.

“Buckley and Poptani are now paying the price for their dishonesty with a spell in prison. If you know of anyone committing any type of tax fraud, you can report them to HMRC online or call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”