The latest tax evaders caught in Wales including a GP and restaurants

Dr Paul Williams claimed he was far from the only GP to have used the tax scheme that got him into trouble

The latest tax evasion list names and shames deliberate defaulters from Wales including a GP, two restaurants, and a clothing retailer with debts of more than £2m. A person or business appears on the list if they have intentionally defaulted on more than £25,000 in tax.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) says releasing the list is "about influencing behaviour by encouraging defaulters to engage with HMRC". Before updating its list HMRC gives each defaulter an opportunity to argue why their details should not be published.

Defaulters' details are removed from the list after 12 months. Below are the Wales-based names on the list, which was last updated on March 18. We have made efforts to approach the people and businesses listed. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.

Dr Paul Williams

Dr Paul Douglas Williams, a GP partner at Waterside Medical Practice's Briton Ferry Health Centre in Neath Port Talbot, evaded £135,220 in tax between April 2010 and April 2014 when he was working as a locum GP. The 46-year-old, who lived at Cwrt Ty Mawr in Penarth, told WalesOnline he has now paid that amount as well as a penalty of £73,292. But he claimed he only agreed to HMRC classing his actions as "deliberate" because the alternative would have been a stressful legal battle.

"It was definitely not deliberate," he said. "This has been an ongoing dispute for the last 12 years and my mental health and my family's mental health have had a significant impact. The only reason I accepted [the 'deliberate' classification] was because of the mental health issues I've been struggling with. They wear you down. It was causing so much strife and stress in the family. Fighting it would have required a significant legal battle. It's been constant – HMRC's behaviour has been absolutely despicable."

Dr Williams said he fell foul of the law because of "incorrect advice" from a chartered accountant he had hired on "the recommendation of other GPs". He claimed the advice was to do with a remuneration trust which he thought to be a legal tax avoidance scheme. The GP's tax advisers said in a statement: "[Dr Williams] simply did what his peers were doing and what he was advised to do by his chartered accountant".

The doctor added: "This is a chartered accountant who works in Cardiff and provides services to numerous doctors and dentists in the area. He maintained this was completely legal and within the tax rules, which at the time it was. In fact lots of colleagues who have used this service have been found and their names haven't been published because they were found not to have been deliberate. I used the same chartered accountant, I used the same process, and HMRC for whatever reason decided that I'm deliberate and hundreds of other people aren't." He claimed no action was taken against the accountant because "they don't chase the providers".

Family Pizza & Kebab

Family Pizza & Kebab Ltd, which was based at 44 High Street in Barry, evaded a total of £50,244 in tax between January 2019 and February 2021 and then between May 2022 and July 2022. The taxman has imposed a penalty of £27,351 on the business, which is run by 45-year-old Rinass Rassul and faces being struck off the Companies House register as its accounts have been overdue since December 2022. The takeaway has an average rating of 3.7 stars after 80 Google reviews.

Alexander Gibbey

Alexander John Gibbey, a 34-year-old builder based in Blaenau Gwent, evaded a total of £32,086 in tax between April 2018 and April 2021 and then between May 2022 and January 2023. He has landed a penalty of £21,549 from HMRC.

Mr Gibbey, who was the sole director of Gia Scaffolding Ltd, resigned from the role in 2022. According to HMRC he has had addresses at Eureka Place in Ebbw Vale, and at Trefelin in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and at Preswylfa in Glynarthen, Ceredigion.

Robert Parfitt

Robert Dennis Parfitt, a 53-year-old builder from Caerphilly county, dodged a total of £60,722 in tax between April 2010 and April 2013 and then between April 2016 and April 2021. HMRC has issued a penalty of £30,388. It is the second time he has been named on the list. We previously reported that R Parfitt Construction Limited, a company he co-ran with a Rachel Parfitt, evaded £94,811 in tax between January 2013 and January 2018 resulting in a penalty of £45,035. The business, which was based at New Bryngwyn Road in Newbridge, has since been liquidated.

At the time of our previous report, in 2023, Mr Parfitt denied wrongdoing and told us: "I have no comment to make as I didn’t have any involvement in the financial/administrative side of the business." He has not responded to our approach for comment following his latest appearance on the list.

Ioan Chirai

Ioan Chirai, a 47-year-old who traded in construction, evaded £55,255 in tax between April 2020 and April 2023, which HMRC has punished with a penalty of £36,744. The list says Mr Chirai has had addresses at Treharne Road in Morriston, Swansea, and at Pauls End Court in Commercial Street, Newport.

His only listing on Companies House is as the former sole director of John Chirai Steelfixing & Formwork Ltd, which was formed in January 2016 and struck off in July 2017 having never filed accounts. The business was based at 30 South Market Street in Newport.

William Russell

William Richard Russell, a 40-year-old window-fitter based at Penrhyn Gwyn in Llanelli, evaded £60,663 between April 2017 and February 2022. HMRC has handed him a penalty of £31,089. He is the sole director of WR Windows Ltd, which according to its most recent accounts – filed last year – had assets of £25,082 and debts of £17,414. The business is based at Foothold Enterprise Village in Burry Road, Llanelli.

Smart Trendz

Smart Trendz Ltd, a clothes retailer based at Pandy Business Park in Plas Acton Road, Wrexham, dodged £29,993 in tax between April 2021 and March 2022 leading to a penalty of £20,995. Despite having very little online presence the company stated in its most recent accounts – filed in December – that it had assets of £1,924,110 and debts of £2,327,627. Its sole director is 53-year-old Naeem Aslam.

Dragon City

Dragon City Caerphilly Ltd, a Chinese restaurant which traded from 44 Bedwas Road in Caerphilly, deliberately defaulted on £32,194 in tax between April 2019 and September 2022. This resulted in a penalty of £18,591. According to its Google listing the restaurant is "temporarily closed". Companies House states its accounts have been overdue since January 2024. It has an average Tripadvisor rating of 3.4 stars after 63 reviews.

Other defaulters from Wales

HMRC updates its list roughly every three months. The current list names several other defaulters from Wales whose details we included in this story.