Victims of tax rebate scandal weigh up legal action as Suffolk firm closes down
Stowmarket-based Apostle Accounting has gone into liquidation
A group of people who lost money after using the services of a Suffolk based accountancy firm, which is now being closed down, are weighing up legal action.
Earlier this month Stowmarket's Apostle Accounting posted a notice in official public record the London Gazette, announcing it had appointed a liquidator.
The firm has been at the centre of a long running controversy over tax rebates after former clients received demands from HMRC for the repayment of expenses claimed through Apostle.
Figures seen by Greatest Hits Radio earlier this year showed over 730 people have come forward saying they used Apostle's services, with around half receiving demand for repayment.
A regional crime squad called The East Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) has been looking into allegations of fraud after an investigation was previously launched by Suffolk Police.
Apostle has always denied any wrongdoing and previously claimed problems had arisen because of mistakes at HMRC.
Lee Osborne, a worker in the food industry in Norfolk, found himself with a £22,500 bill from HMRC after using Apostle's services.
On learning of the liquidation of Apostle, he told Greatest Hits Radio: "I didn't see it coming at all."
"If anything I did expect it in the very early stages. All the time Apostle we're saying 'no, we're still trading'... so it came a bit out of the blue."
"For all of us that's affected... we don't know what it really means."
"There's a group of about 100 of us together in a WhatsApp group. I have been talking to multiple law firms about the possibility of further group action."
"I've written off the money... everyone's written off the money, they've come to the understand that they're probably not going to get anything back. But, I'm not going to go down without a fight".
What have Apostle said?
Apostle says it cannot comment further on the liquidation process. In a statement released earlier this year, the company said:
"HMRC has previously conducted standard compliance checks of the practices of Apostle including in respect of (the expenses service) – there has been no finding of wrongdoing."
"HMRC has.... unilaterally made a decision to revisit rebate returns from former clients of Apostle, including claims made as long ago as 2016.
It added: "Apostle in no way accepts the allegations against it or liability for payments HMRC may be seeking from former clients."
"Working closely with its solicitors, and external independent advisors, Apostle will be submitting a thorough submission to HMRC explaining why it believes there has been an incorrect application by HMRC officers of its own rules/guidance.
"For the avoidance of doubt, it strongly contests allegations, if any, of non-compliance issues and/or fraudulent tax claims and is entirely confident that it will demonstrate its compliance with the applicable rules and regulations and will continue to liaise with HMRC.
"Apostle has and always aims to act in a transparent manner and with the utmost good faith at all times."
HMRC says it cannot comment specifically on Apostle Accounting.