A Gateshead couple have been sentenced for attempting to steal more than £130,000 in tax.
Carl Mulholland, 33, and Melanie Ann Lee, 30, submitted false information on their tax returns to claim money they were not entitled to, an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed.
Mulholland, a self-employed thermal insulation engineer, pocketed £22,819.40 in fraudulent Income Tax repayments between 2014 and 2018. Attempts to reclaim a further £83,489 failed when they were withheld by HMRC.
Lee, a support worker and hairdresser, stole £24,284 in fraudulent Income tax repayments between 2016 and 2018. Further attempts to claim £5,009 were thwarted by the HMRC.
Investigations revealed Mulholland moved stolen money out of his bank account.
Mulholland and Lee, of Green Lane Gardens, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to fraud offences at Newcastle Crown Court on March 9. Mulholland also admitted money laundering offences.
At a sentencing hearing on June 15, Mulholland was jailed for 27 months while Lee was handed a 16-month prison term, suspended for two years.
HMRC has confirmed proceedings are under way to recover the stolen funds.
A spokesman said: "This was a deliberate attempt to steal thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money which should be used to fund our vital public services, such as the NHS.
"HMRC want to level the playing field for all businesses and we will continue to pursue the small minority of individuals, like Mulholland and Lee, who commit tax fraud.
"We urge anyone with information about tax evasion to report it to HMRC online."
Information about any type of tax fraud can be reported to HMRC online.
