CORENEWS: HMRC nets £5m from ‘black market’ dog breeders

Taxman cracks down on illicit sale of canines after reports from animal welfare groups

HMRC has raised over £5m in unpaid tax after an operation to tackle dog breeders who were selling puppies on the black market.

More than 250 cases involving the illicit sale of dogs were uncovered by the taxman during the four years after a special taskforce was formed to tackle the problem. In one instance, a former Crufts judge was given a £185,000 bill.