Understanding the penalties for employing illegal immigrants

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Fines for Employing Illegal Immigrants: A guide for Company Directors

In July 2016, new laws were introduced relating to the employment of illegal immigrants in the UK. As a company director you need to understand the compliance process, and be aware of the repercussions of taking on illegal workers in your business.

Severe fines and penalties can be handed down if you are found guilty of employing illegal immigrants, but also for failing to comply with the government’s requirements for checking the status of workers.

What are the consequences of employing illegal immigrants?

If you knowingly employ an illegal immigrant, or have ‘reasonable cause to believe’ the person does not have the right to work in the UK and you still employ them, you could face unlimited fines and a prison sentence of up to five years.

Failing to carry out the proper checks can lead to fines of up to £20,000 for each employee working illegally in your business. You can also be disqualified as a director under these circumstances.

Additionally, your business is likely to suffer reputational damage if Immigration Enforcement publish your details – a common practice to deter other businesses from taking on illegal immigrants.

Civil penalty regime for employers of illegal immigrants

If you are suspected of employing illegal immigrants, you will receive a Civil Penalty Notice informing you of the amount of the fine, which illegal worker(s) it relates to, and who is responsible for paying the money. You alone may be responsible, the limited company, or both.

The notice will also tell you:

If you accept that the penalty is justified, and can afford to pay the full amount quickly, you can reduce the fine by 30% if you pay within 21 days.

What enforcement action can be taken if you do not pay?

Enforcement action can be taken in the civil court, with the outcome being recorded in the County Court Register of Judgments. This can affect your ability to obtain borrowing in the future, as the register can be viewed by banks and other lenders.

HMRC may also require you to pay a security bond to continue trading if they become aware of the situation, making you personally liable for the bond as director.

A specialist team of the Insolvency Service, called the Public Interest Unit (PIU), has been established and works alongside Home Office Immigration Enforcement. The Public Interest Unit are active in the disqualification of directors found to employ illegal immigrants, in some cases having already received previous Civil Penalty Notices that remain unpaid.

Directors can be disqualified whether or not the company is in liquidation. Removing directors who blatantly flout the law is clearly in the public interest, and serves as a warning to others that enforcement action is generally swift and effective.

Your right to object

You have the right to file an objection to the fine imposed, but you need to do this within 28 days of receiving the Civil Notice Penalty. There are three grounds on which you can base your objection:

One of five outcomes is possible when you launch an appeal:

You will need to carefully consider whether to challenge a Civil Notice Penalty, and provide detailed supporting evidence if you choose to launch an appeal.

For more information on fines and penalties imposed for employing illegal immigrants, call Real Business Rescue. We can provide professional guidance to help you comply with the regulations, and assist with a challenge if appropriate. We offer free same-day consultations, and work from our extensive office network comprising of 100+ offices across the UK with a partner-led service offering immediate director advice and support.