Two HM Revenue and Customs officers have been charged with passing on confidential taxpayer information in exchange for money. Prosecutors allege the pair abused their official positions to access sensitive records.
The charges relate to offences said to have taken place between April and November 2020, involving unauthorised access to private tax data.
Details of the Alleged Misconduct
Hafsa Ahmed, 29, and Mohammed Suhaib, 28, both from Bradford, are accused of accessing tax records without lawful reason. It is alleged they passed this information to a third party in return for payment.
Both defendants face one count of misconduct in public office and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
Wider Group Charged in Linked Investigation
Several other individuals have also been charged in connection with the alleged offences. Prosecutors say they were involved in handling money believed to be derived from criminal activity.
Ali Hassan Hamid, Zeeshan Saddique and Kiran Kanwal are accused of acquiring or controlling assets suspected to come from crime.
Further Charges Against Additional Defendants
Mohammed Sadique Khan, 30, has been charged with three counts of handling criminal property, alongside conspiracy to commit fraud.
Fareeaa Mouladad-Piranditta, 30, has been charged with concealing, disguising or transferring criminal property, according to court documents.
Court Proceedings and Legal Status
All defendants were due to appear before Bradford Magistrates’ Court. The charges mark a significant step in a long-running investigation into alleged corruption within HMRC.
The Crown Prosecution Service has not disclosed the value of the payments or the scale of the data accessed.
Serious Breach of Public Trust
Misconduct in public office is considered one of the most serious offences involving public servants. It applies when an official abuses their position in a way that harms public trust.
HMRC staff are bound by strict data protection and confidentiality rules, with severe penalties for breaches.
HMRC Under Pressure Over Data Security
The case comes amid continued scrutiny of how government departments safeguard sensitive personal information. HMRC holds financial data on millions of UK taxpayers.
The department has not commented on the individual case but has previously said it takes allegations of internal misconduct extremely seriously.
Why Secure, Transparent Tax Tools Matter More Than Ever
Cases like this underline the importance of transparency, security and clear oversight in how tax information is handled. With millions of people relying on HMRC systems, public trust depends on safeguards that protect sensitive financial data and reduce unnecessary risk.
Digital tax platforms such as Pie tax aim to support this by helping individuals and businesses understand their tax position clearly, track obligations in one place and reduce reliance on manual processes. By simplifying compliance and improving visibility, tools like Pie tax can help taxpayers stay informed and in control while navigating an increasingly complex tax system.
