- Glasgow shop owner Mohammed Mirza admitted to filing false VAT returns totaling over £725,000 between 2011 and 2014.
- Despite his conviction, prosecutors dropped the confiscation order in November 2025 due to insufficient admissible evidence, so Mirza will not be forced to repay the money.
- The case highlights that even after a VAT fraud conviction, repayment is not guaranteed if legal or evidentiary issues arise.
- HMRC investigations can last many years, and the legal process for asset confiscation is complex and evidence-driven.
- The case serves as a warning for UK business owners about the importance of VAT compliance and the risks of poor record-keeping.
Source: apexaccountants.tax
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
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