A company director has been jailed after using false documents during a tax fraud investigation.

Prabhdyal Singh Sodhi, 64, of Ingram Avenue, Hampstead, and company secretary, Rajesh Doshi, 49, of St Margaret’s Road, Edgware, created and submitted fraudulent documents to support tax relief claims worth £270,000.

Sodhi ran a number of care homes and submitted Corporation Tax group relief claims to reduce the amount of tax he had to pay in 2011.

However, checks carried out by HMRC found several of the companies he had claimed for did not qualify for group relief.

He was given the chance to disclose any errors or wrongdoing, but Sodhi conspired with his company secretary to create and submit false company documents to HMRC.

Sodhi and Doshi were subsequently charged and found guilty of cheating the public revenue after a trial at Prospero House Nightingale court, in Borough, on November 3, 2020.

Sodhi was sentenced to three years in prison, while Doshi was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years.

Kath Doyle, Deputy Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “This was a deliberate attempt to cheat the tax system and pocket money which should be used to fund our vital public services. Sodhi had the chance to put his tax affairs in order, but he and his associate thought they could get away with using false documents.

“HMRC will continue to pursue the small minority who think tax fraud is an acceptable way to do business. We encourage anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to report it to HMRC online, or call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”