Mark Sullivan, owner of Big Fry Fish & Chips, received a £40,000 fine from the Home Office for hiring a man with a forged identity. Despite following standard hiring processes and using HMRC's PAYE system, the fine was issued after an immigration raid revealed the employee's fraudulent documentation. Sullivan described the penalty as devastating and a potential threat to his business. He opted to pay a reduced fine of £28,000 after being warned that appealing could double the penalty. The case has sparked calls for reform in penalty rules that affect small businesses disproportionately.
Sullivan described the penalty as "devastating" and warned it could spell the end for his small business, highlighting concerns about the impact of such fines on smaller enterprises.
The Home Office issued a £40,000 fine for hiring an employee with a forged identity, despite the business following standard hiring processes and utilizing HMRC's PAYE system.
Sullivan stated, "We owned up when we found out. We told them what happened, but we were given no right to defend ourselves."
Sullivan noted, "He had a bank account, a university education, housing benefit, a student loan. Where were the red flags for us?"
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