Vape Shops Galore are Licensed Visa Sponsors

 

🇬🇧 There are 79 vape shops on the Home Office’s public register of licensed visa sponsors.

‘Guardian Vapes Ltd’ in South Shields is licensed to sponsor overseas workers via the ‘Skilled Worker Visa’ route. 🧵1/3 pic.twitter.com/7BDL047ZjE

— The Procurement Files (@procurementfile) May 28, 2026

Here is the government link to the full list. 

Does this not possibly represent an AML flag?

Maybe someone in HMRC should be taking a look at this? 

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HMRC Must Investigate Deliveroo, Uber Eats etc for Enabling Illegal Migrant Labour

 

Recent media reports have exposed a disturbing trend: illegal migrants are allegedly working for major gig economy platforms like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat, often using fake IDs or shared accounts to bypass right-to-work checks. This scandal not only undermines UK immigration laws but also raises serious questions about tax compliance, worker exploitation, and corporate accountability. His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a clear duty to investigate these companies and crack down on practices that enable illegal working. The time for action is now.

 

Over the past year, investigations by outlets like The Telegraph and GB News have revealed that asylum seekers, some housed in Home Office-funded hotels, are earning up to £500 a week as delivery riders. Many reportedly use fraudulent documents or rent accounts from legitimate drivers for as little as £70 a week, exploiting loopholes in the platforms’ verification processes. These practices, described as part of a “dark economy,” allow illegal workers to operate undetected, often without paying taxes or National Insurance contributions.

 

HMRC, as the agency responsible for enforcing tax and employment law compliance, cannot ignore this. Employing workers without the right to work in the UK can lead to undeclared wages, tax evasion, and breaches of minimum wage laws—issues squarely within HMRC’s remit. While the Home Office leads on immigration enforcement, HMRC’s role in auditing businesses for financial irregularities means it has the tools and authority to probe these companies’ practices. If Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and others are turning a blind eye to illegal labour, HMRC must hold them accountable.

 

The scale of the problem is alarming. A 2023 spot check reportedly found that 42% of delivery drivers were working illegally, suggesting that platforms may be factoring illegal labour into their business models. Social media posts on X have called out these companies for failing to verify IDs or allowing account sharing, with some accusing HMRC of inaction. Meanwhile, legitimate workers and taxpayers bear the cost of a system that rewards exploitation and non-compliance.

 

Critics argue that these platforms prioritise profit over due diligence. Enhanced security checks, promised by Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat in 2024, have not stemmed the tide of illegal working. Reports of “master forgers” supplying fake identities to criminal networks further highlight the need for robust verification systems. HMRC’s forensic auditing capabilities could uncover whether these companies are knowingly or negligently failing to comply with employment and tax regulations.

 

An HMRC investigation would send a clear message: no company is above the law. It should focus on three key areas. First, examine the platforms’ right-to-work verification processes to determine if they are fit for purpose or deliberately lax. Second, audit their financial records for evidence of undeclared earnings or cash-in-hand payments to illegal workers. Third, collaborate with the Home Office to trace the tax and immigration status of gig workers flagged in recent media reports.

 

The public deserves transparency and accountability. If Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and others are complicit in enabling illegal labour, they must face hefty fines and reputational consequences. HMRC’s inaction risks eroding trust in the tax system and emboldening companies to skirt the law. By launching a thorough investigation, HMRC can protect honest businesses, uphold immigration controls, and ensure that the gig economy operates fairly for all.

 

The evidence is mounting, and the clock is ticking. HMRC must act decisively to investigate these companies and close the loopholes that fuel illegal working. Anything less is a betrayal of the British taxpayer.

 

All HMRC has to do is to order some food and check to documents and records of those who deliver it.

Tax does have to be taxing.


HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

HMRC's Gordian Knot

There has been a veritable avalanche of newspaper articles and TV reports about the proposed changes to the so called "non dom" rules, which are planned to come into force from the 6th of April.

The majority of the reports and articles focus on the so called "wealthy non doms", who in the eyes of some are paying far less than their "fair share" of tax. Some believe that the imposition of the new rule will ensure that they will be made to pay what they "should".

This argument of course ignores the fact that these individual invariably generate wealth and prosperity for the country via their businesses and activities.

However, leaving the "wealthy" aside, this proposed legislation will affect others as well.

Under current "non dom" rules, income and capital gains from overseas investments and assets are only liable to UK tax if remitted or brought into the UK.

Under the proposed new legislation, drafted by HMRC, unless overseas income is below £1,000 the "cost" of choosing to be taxed on the remittance basis will be £30K a year (where the non dom has been resident in the UK for seven or more years) as well as the loss of the personal allowance and the annual capital gains tax exemption.

The alternative to the £30K fee is to pay UK tax on worldwide income and gains. This of course means that you have to be registered as a taxpayer in the UK.

However, there remains the thorny and politically embarrassing issue of illegal immigrants:

- The Home office estimate that there are 310,000 - 570,000 illegals in the UK
- Migration Watch estimate that there are 515,000 - 870,000 illegals in the UK

It is safe to assume that none of these people are registered in the UK tax system, therefore once they have been here for 7 years they are classified (under the proposed new rules) as "non doms".

This means that they will have to pay £30K.

Needless to say, this will not happen.

Now here is where it becomes rather messy for the government, by not paying the £30K fee and by not registering for tax the illegals will be committing offences under the laws relating to money laundering.

At first glance this may seem to be irrelevant, if they are illegal they should be deported and the problem is solved.

Not quite, for you see an offence under the money laundering rules is a criminal offence which requires a jail term.

The jails are already full, and the illegals are meant to be deported.

This rule change will cripple the government's drive to reduce the number of illegal immigrants living here.

As Alistair Darling presents his first budget today, he might want to think about how he can unravel this Gordian knot of his own creation.

Happy Budget Day!

Tax does have to be taxing.

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