The son of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Hassan Nawaz, ranked second in the UK’s list of tax defaulters.

Hasan Nawaz in Tax default list:

Hasan Nawaz has been named in the UK’s list of “deliberate tax defaulters” almost a year after being declared bankrupt. The UK government released this list on Tuesday. It includes individuals and businesses penalized for deliberately failing to meet tax obligations or making serious errors in tax returns.

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Hasan Nawaz’s name appears second on the list, which is arranged in order of the amount owed and the penalties imposed. Authorities identify him as a property developer with addresses at Avenfield House and 1 Hyde Park Place. The latter property was central to the UK’s 2019 £190 million settlement involving real estate tycoon Malik Riaz. Records show Hasan Nawaz purchased this property in 2016 for £42 million, but family sources claim he sold it the same year.

Unpaid taxes and penalties:

As per the UK government, Hasan Nawaz has to pay £9.3 million in taxes with an addition of £5.2 million in penalty. The UK government enforces a policy of “Publishing Details of Deliberate Defaulters” (PDDD) to discourage tax evasion. Under this rule, any individual or company with a tax default exceeding £25,000 may be named publicly.

Purpose behind public naming:

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) reported that exposing the names of the defaulters may diminish further tax violations. Moreover, it may help the defaulters to correct their tax orders. Officials believe this measure can deter others from committing tax fraud. They also hope that individuals already in violation come forward to settle their dues to avoid public exposure.

Bankruptcy declaration and legal actions:

The UK High Court declared Hasan Nawaz bankrupt in 2024. The HMPC, in 2023, filed a petition against Hasan Nawaz for not paying his due debt. The court issued a bankruptcy order on April 29, 2024, after a creditor’s petition. HMRC frequently files such petitions to recover unpaid taxes. This action was initiated through the department’s Contracts Management Team in Liverpool.