The Corruption Diaries

When Richard started trading online back in the early '90s, the internet was a shiny new thing. Since then, it's transformed the High Street. Tax abuse gave online retail an unfair head start. Combine that with monopolistic behaviours and there are still plenty of challenges to overcome. In the final episode: what can we learn from Richard's fight?

Music (in order of use) is courtesy of Cherry Red Records: Regeneration by Omnia Opera, Prelude by Moom and Astronoght also by Moom.

This series was recorded, produced, and sound designed by Leo Schick and presented and executive produced by Naomi Fowler. Many thanks to Richard Allen for sharing his story with the Tax Justice Network.

Richard Allen comes across a massive tax fraud that makes the Channel Islands loophole look like a tea party. He teams up with two more retailers whose businesses are being destroyed by it and they starts to apply pressure to the tax authorities, HMRC, who seem reluctant to take on big online marketplayers Amazon and eBay.

Music (in order of use) is courtesy of Cherry Red Records: Steal No Egg by Electric Orange and Movement by Praise Space Electric.

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced by Naomi Fowler and Leo Schick and sound designed by Leo Schick.

A lawyer from a swanky law firm helps Richard (pro bono) to sue HMRC, the UK tax authority for damages due to their slowness to act against the Channel Islands tax loophole and shut it down, resulting in the loss of his business. Then Brexit happens.

Music (in order of use) is courtesy of Cherry Red Records: Forbidden Love by Nick Riff, Chimera by Jeff Tarlton and Watching the Sky by Kryptastedie.

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced by Naomi Fowler and Leo Schick and sound designed by Leo Schick.

Richard Allen's fight goes all the way to the High Court and he's armed with two top barristers Valentina Sloane and Christopher Vajda, up against the Channel Islands and the UK's historic, unspoken hands-off approach to their tax abuse schemes.

Music (in order of use) is courtesy of Cherry Red Records: Electric Eye God by Nick Riff, Everything by On Trial.

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced by Naomi Fowler and Leo Schick and sound designed by Leo Schick.

Richard has a breakthrough in his campaign against the Channel Islands tax loophole, saving the UK hundreds of millions of pounds a year in dodged taxes. But then his story takes a new twist...

Music (in order of use) is courtesy of Cherry Red Records: Ease part III by the Suicidal Flowers, Swivel by Kava Kava, Prelude by Moom, Chimera by Jeff Tarlton and Astronoght by Moom.

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced by Naomi Fowler and Leo Schick and sound designed by Leo Schick.

Richard realises he can't keep his business going any more, he gets 'lawyered up' and discovers that the European Commission is up for fighting against the UK.

Music (in order of use) is courtesy of Cherry Red Records: Watching the Sky by Kryptästesie, Hidden Attack by Treatment, Gone Like Tomorrow by Josiah, Prelude by Moom, Touchy Feelie by Kava Kava, and Gamoto Manopano by Sons of Selina.

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced by Naomi Fowler and Leo Schick and sound designed by Leo Schick.

Richard goes into battle against the Channel Islands tax loophole, the businesses taking advantage of it and the failure of the UK's tax authority to take action.

Music (in order of use) is courtesy of Cherry Red Records: Hidden Attack, by Treatment; The Exstasie, by Psychomuzak; Chimera, by Jeff Tarlton; O.B.N, by Josiah, Life is But, by Sons of Selina; Malpaso, by Josiah.

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced by Naomi Fowler and Leo Schick and sound designed by Leo Schick.

It was the early days of online retail, and sales were booming but Richard is being undercut by other businesses. Then he discovers the magical world of 'offshore fulfillment.'

Music in order of use is courtesy of Cherry Red Records: Electric Eye God by Nick Riff, Gondwanaland by Nine Invisibles, Gamoto Manopano by Sons Of Selina.

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced by Naomi Fowler and Leo Schick and sound designed by Leo Schick.

Richard's launch of his record label Delerium and his mail order business the Freak Emporium were going from strength to strength. But things started to get too much. And then something happened that threatened everything he'd worked for...

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced and sound designed by Leo Schick.

Richard Allen manages to break free from his 9 to 5 office job to run a record label and tour with rock bands full time.

The music used in order of use is Prelude by Moom and The Extasie by Psychomuzak - courtesy of Cherry Red Records. Additional music by Voyage 35.

This is a Tax Justice Network podcast with Naomi Fowler of the Taxcast podcast. Produced and sound designed by Leo Schick.