Prevention of the Criminal Facilitation of Tax Evasion Policy

Introduction

1.1 The Criminal Finances Act 2017 became effective on 30th September 2017 to demonstrate the UK government’s commitment to preventing tax evasion in all its forms. The purpose of the legislation is to set out that companies and partnerships will be criminally liable where they fail to prevent those who act for them, or on their behalf, from criminally facilitating tax evasion.

1.2 As an employer, if we fail to prevent our employees, workers, agents or service providers from facilitating tax evasion, Care is Central can face criminal sanctions including an unlimited fine, as well as exclusion from tendering for public contracts, and reputational damage. We therefore take our legal responsibilities seriously and take a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of tax evasion.

1.3 Care is Central is committed to preventing the facilitation of tax evasion by associated individuals or businesses (an ‘Associated Person’) anywhere within its operations. An ‘Associated Person’ is defined as a company employee or agent, or someone who performs services for, or on behalf of the company. It may include suppliers, contractors, sub-contractors and intermediaries. A written contract is not necessarily required, association is defined based on actual events and behaviour. This commitment governs all of our business dealings, and the conduct of all persons or organisations who are appointed to act on our behalf.

1.4 We expect the highest standards of integrity and conduct in all business matters from our employees, and all Associated Persons. We look to our employees and Associated Persons to exercise scrupulous care in their business conduct at all times, particularly in relation to the prevention of tax evasion.

1.5 We are committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships wherever we operate; and to implementing and enforcing effective systems to counter tax evasion facilitation.

1.6 We will uphold all laws relevant to countering tax evasion in all the jurisdictions in which we operate.

1.7 The risks for our business are identified through reviews undertaken by the Senior Management Team.

2.Purpose and Scope of this Policy

2.1 The purpose of this policy is to:

Set out our responsibilities, and the responsibilities of those working for us, in observing and upholding our position on preventing the facilitation of tax evasion; and
Provide information and guidance to those working for us on how to recognise and avoid tax evasion.

2.2 This policy does not form part of an employee’s contract of employment, and we may amend it at any time for any reason.

3.Who must comply with this Policy?
This policy applies to all persons working for Care is Central or on Care is Central’s behalf in any capacity. This includes; employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency workers, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives and business partners, or any other person associated with Care is Central, wherever located.

4.Who is responsible for the Policy?

The Managing Director and Chief Operations Officer has overall responsibility for this Policy and for reviewing the effectiveness of actions taken in response to concerns raised under this Policy.

5.What is the facilitation of tax evasion?

5.1 For the purposes of this policy:

UK tax evasion offence means;
- an offence of cheating the public revenue; or
- an offence under the law of any part of the United Kingdom consisting of being knowingly concerned in, or in taking steps with a view to, the fraudulent evasion of tax.
UK tax evasion facilitation offence means an offence under the law of any part of the United Kingdom consisting of;
- being knowingly concerned in, or taking steps with a view to, the fraudulent evasion of a tax by another person; or
- aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of a UK tax evasion offence; or
- being involved in any part of the commission of an offence consisting of being knowingly concerned in, or in taking steps with a view to, the fraudulent evasion of a tax.

5.2 Under the Criminal Finances Act 2017, a separate criminal offence is automatically committed when all three of the following elements apply;

Fraudulent tax evasion by a taxpayer (either an individual or a legal entity) under existing law;
Criminal facilitation of the tax evasion by an Associated Person of the Relevant Body, who is acting in that capacity; and
The Relevant Body failed to prevent the Associated Person from committing the criminal facilitation act.

The ‘Relevant Body’ is the company or partnership which could be found liable of a Criminal Corporate Offence. The Relevant Body does not have to have deliberately or dishonestly facilitated the tax evasion itself; the fact that the Associated Person has done so, creates the liability for the company or partnership.

However, if the Associated Person accidentally, ignorantly, or negligently facilitates the tax evasion, then the corporate criminal offence will not have been committed.

5.3 Tax evasion is not the same as tax avoidance or tax planning. Tax evasion involves deliberate and dishonest conduct. Tax avoidance is not illegal and involves taking steps, within the law, to minimise tax payable (or maximise tax reliefs).

5.4 Tax means all forms of taxation, including but not limited to corporation tax, income tax, value added tax, stamp duty, stamp duty land tax, national insurance contributions (and their equivalents in any non-UK jurisdiction) and includes duty and any other form of taxation (however described).

6.What you must not do

6.1 It is not acceptable for you (or someone acting on your behalf) to:

Engage in any form of facilitating tax evasion; aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of a tax evasion offence by another person;
fail to promptly report any request or demand from any third party to facilitate the fraudulent evasion of tax or any suspected fraudulent evasion of tax by another person, in accordance with this policy;
engage in any other activity that might lead to a breach of this policy;
threaten or retaliate against another individual who has refused to commit a tax evasion offence or a foreign tax evasion offence or who has raised concerns under this policy; or
seek to obstruct any investigation into suspected breaches of this policy.

7.Your Responsibilities

7.1 You must ensure that you read, understand, and comply with this policy.

7.2 The prevention, detection and reporting of tax evasion are the responsibility of all of Care is Central’s Associated Persons. You are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy.

7.3 You must notify your line manager, or their line manager, as soon as possible if you believe or suspect that a breach of this policy has occurred, or may occur, in the future. Should you feel you are unable to report a breach of this policy to either your line manager or their line manager, the reporting procedure outlined within the ‘Whistleblowing’ policy should be followed.

7.4 Examples of behaviours that would require reporting are: if an employee or supplier asks to be paid into an offshore bank account, without good reason; or a supplier asks to be paid in cash, indicating that this will mean the payment is not subject to applicable tax. Further “red flags” that may indicate potential tax evasion are set out in section 10.

7.5 You must comply fully with any investigation into suspected tax evasion or any breach of this policy. A failure to comply with an investigation may result in disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct.

8.Training and Communication

8.1 Line managers of all grades are responsible for identifying individuals who report directly to them that require the necessary training. Such training may form part of wider financial crime detection and prevention training.

8.2 Our zero-tolerance approach to tax evasion must be communicated to all business partners, including suppliers, contractors, associates and customers at the outset of our business relationship with them and as appropriate after.

9.Breaches of This Policy

9.1 Any employee who breaches this policy may face disciplinary action, which may result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct.

9.2 We may terminate our relationship with other individuals and organisations working on our behalf if they breach this policy.

10.Potential Risk Scenarios: “Red Flags”

The following is a list of possible red flags that may arise while you work for Care is Central and which may raise concerns related to tax evasion. The list is not intended to be exhaustive and is for illustrative purposes only. If you encounter any of these red flags (or other activity likely to fall under this policy) while working for Care is Central, you must report them promptly to your Line Manager:

you become aware, in the course of your work, that a third party has made or intends to make a false statement relating to tax; has failed to disclose income or gains to, or to register with, HMRC (or the equivalent authority in any relevant non-UK jurisdiction); has delivered or intends to deliver a false document relating to tax; or has set up or intends to set up a structure to try to hide income, gains or assets from a tax authority;
you become aware, in the course of your work, that a third party has deliberately failed to register for VAT (or the equivalent tax in any relevant non-UK jurisdiction) or failed to account for VAT;
a third-party requests payment in cash and/or refuses to sign a formal commission or fee agreement, or to provide an invoice or receipt for a payment made;
you become aware, in the course of your work, that an employee asks to be treated as a self-employed contractor, but without any material changes to their working conditions;
a third-party request that payment is made to a country or geographic different from where the third party resides or conducts business;
a third party to whom Care is Central have provided goods or services requests that their invoice is addressed to a different entity, where Care is Central did not receive goods or services from such entity directly;
a third party to whom Care is Central have provided services asks for the description of services rendered on an invoice in a way that seems designed to obscure the nature of the services provided;
you receive an invoice from a third party that appears to be non-standard or customised;
a third party insists on the use of side letters or refuses to put terms agreed in writing or asks for contracts or other documentation to be backdated;
you notice that Care is Central has been invoiced for a commission or fee payment that appears too large or too small, given the service stated to have been provided;
a third party requests or requires the use of an agent, intermediary, consultant, distributor, or supplier that is not typically used by or known to Care is Central.

Associated policies

11.1 This policy should be read in conjunction with:

Modern Slavery Policy
Business Expenses Policy
Gifts and Hospitality Policy
Conflicts of Interest Policy
Whistleblowing Policy
Disciplinary Policy

Raising Concerns

12.1 You are encouraged to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of tax evasion or foreign tax evasion or tax evasion facilitation at the earliest possible stage.

12.2 If you become aware of any fraudulent evasion of tax by another person in the course of your work, or you are asked to assist another person in their fraudulent evasion of tax (whether directly or indirectly), or if you believe or suspect that any fraudulent evasion of tax has occurred or may occur you must notify your line manager as soon as possible.

12.3 If you are unsure about whether or not a particular act constitutes tax evasion raise it with your line manager as soon as possible. You should note that the corporate offence is only committed where you deliberately and dishonestly take action to facilitate the tax evasion or foreign tax evasion. However, a deliberate failure to report suspected tax evasion or “turning a blind eye” to suspicious activity, could amount to tax evasion facilitation.

Procedure for Making a Disclosure – Whistleblowing

13.1 Should you become concerned that a fellow employee or an Associated Person is facilitating tax evasion, you should immediately report the incident via one of the following;

your line manager,
your line manager’s line manager,
any of the CiC senior financial team members
the Managing Director

Protection

14.1 Individuals who raise concerns or report another’s wrongdoing are sometimes worried about possible repercussions. We aim to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken.

14.2 We are committed to ensuring no-one suffers any detrimental treatment as a result of:

refusing to take part in, be concerned in or facilitate tax evasion by another person;
refusing to aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of a tax evasion offence by another person; or
reporting in good faith their suspicion that an actual or potential tax evasion offence has taken place or may take place in the future.

Detrimental treatment includes dismissal, disciplinary action, threats or other unfavourable treatment connected with raising a concern. If you believe that you have suffered any such treatment, you should inform HR immediately. If the matter is not remedied, and you are an employee, you should raise it formally using our Grievance Procedure.