Firms linked to tax fraud raid owe HMRC millions

Companies linked to a firm at the centre of a criminal inquiry owe the taxman more than £2.5m, the BBC can reveal.

The businesses were being wound up after Norwich-based Green Jellyfish was raided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) last year on suspicion of tax relief fraud.

Administrator and liquidator reports also disclose that former employees are owed more than £600,000.

The sole director of Green Jellyfish and almost all the other companies, Daniel Mark Robinson, did not respond when asked for comment.

At least 13 companies are currently in liquidation or administration, including GJ2020, which has traded as Green Jellyfish.

It provided advisory services for research and development tax relief claims.

Latest filings on Companies House disclosed how HMRC removed physical and electronic records when Green Jellyfish's premises were raided in September 2024.

They also revealed how Green Jellyfish's income deteriorated after the taxman had stopped paying out on new claims after it had allegedly placed an unofficial "flag" on companies within the group.

The companies currently being wound up were based in the same building in Norwich or nearby, with two more registered at an address in Cambridgeshire.

Eleven people across the country were arrested on suspicion of tax relief fraud at the time.

HMRC would not comment, but documents posted on Companies House revealed their inquiry was ongoing.

The papers also identified those who were owed money by the 13 with the advisory firm Quantuma appointed as administrators or liquidators.

The biggest portion of creditors were from within the group of companies itself.

Documents indicate that, between them, they had more than 130 employees who had been let go.

One former staff member told the BBC they and some of their colleagues had managed to secure some money via the government's redundancy scheme.

Analysis of the administrator and liquidator's reports indicate that HMRC is owed approximately £2.52m in unpaid corporation tax, VAT, PAYE and national insurance across the 13 companies.

HMRC is listed in some documents as a "secondary preferential creditor".

Under UK insolvency law, this means HMRC will only be paid after what are known as "secured creditors" receive their money.

"It is anticipated that a nominal dividend will be paid to HMRC", one of the reports said.

Another company within the wider group, called Green Jellyfish Ltd, is owed almost £5m despite it being listed as dormant, with the most recent submitted accounts indicating just £1 in assets.

Mr Robinson is listed as sole director.

Norwich City Council is also listed as a creditor of two of the companies currently in liquidation, and is owed more than £115,000.

Mr Robinson did not respond when asked for comment.

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