HMRC names Stockport firm as tax avoidance promoter

A business on Greek Street in Stockport town centre is among a number of businesses named by HMRC as tax avoidance promoters.

Customers are being urged to withdraw from three published schemes and contact HMRC as soon as possible; the 3 named tax avoidance promoters are:

• Gateway Outsource Solutions Ltd, of Mottram House, 43 Greek Street, Stockport, SK3 8AX
• ContractorCare Ltd, of 24/25 The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG 
• PAYEme Ltd, 3rd Floor 8 Princess Parade, Liverpool, L3 1DL

These avoidance schemes typically saw users contracted through the scheme and paid National Minimum Wage, with the rest of their wage disguised in a separate payment. Schemes such as these often wrongly promise their users can avoid National Insurance and Income Tax.

Mary Aiston, Director of Counter Avoidance, HMRC, said:

“Tax avoidance schemes are advertised as clever ways to pay less tax but in reality, they rarely work as the promoters promise.

“That’s why we’re regularly exposing the details of tax avoidance schemes and their promoters, to not only help customers steer clear of them, but also to disrupt the tax avoidance market and drive scheme promoters out of business.

“Anyone who thinks they may be involved in a tax avoidance scheme, or have been approached by a scheme promoter, should contact us as soon as possible to get help.”

HMRC has now named a total of 14 tax avoidance promoters and further names will be added to this list in the coming weeks. HMRC’s Tax Avoidance – Don’t Get Caught Out campaign offers a range of tools to customers to help them steer clear of avoidance schemes, such as their interactive risk checker, payslip guidance, and case studies demonstrating the risks of becoming involved in a tax avoidance scheme and the warning signs customers should look out for.