The Story of Online Retail Tax Abuse and RAVAS; The Corruption Diaries Series 2 | Now Streaming all 14 Episodes

Today marks the release of "Tax Avoidance: The Musical" – the 14th and final episode of The Corruption Diaries (Series 2) available wherever you get your podcasts.

Just over a year ago, Naomi Fowler of the Tax Justice Network (TJN) invited me to record a series of podcasts about the work of Retailers Against VAT Avoidance Schemes (RAVAS).

Over the next ten months, I worked with the brilliant Leo Schick. What started as a series of interviews evolved into something none of us expected. RAVAS has always campaigned strictly on the principle of market and tax fairness and it was important to me that the podcast series remained focussed on that principle. The end result is not only a true reflection of what RAVAS stands for but it also reflects accurately what I experienced over a period of two decades. Every fact and event was checked against my detailed files to ensure that accuracy.

For the first time, I was able to share my story. It was surprisingly therapeutic to offload decades of information that had been "rattling around" in my head. When Leo discovered I had access to a sizeable music library from my former record label, the project shifted gears. It became a unique audio dramatisation—my interview and Naomi's narration woven together with music and sound effects. Seeing my own experiences translated into this format allowed me to step back and view them from a distance for the first time, a gift for which I am eternally grateful to both Naomi and Leo.

Why did I agree to record this series ?

I believe there are vital lessons in what I went through. If policymakers or politicians can learn even a fraction from my 20-year fight against those who skew the market by abusing the tax system, it was worth it.

When I began trading online in the early '90s, the internet was an "undiscovered country." Since then, it has transformed the High Street. As I explain in the podcast, tax avoidance gave online retail an unfair head start, which—combined with monopolistic behaviour—undermined the level playing field. While we’ve resolved some issues, the final episode addresses the massive challenges that remain.

Throughout this journey, I’ve met many people. I’ve been quietly congratulated by ex-HMRC employees and heard from insiders who agreed with me but lacked the power to effect change. Large organisations are at their worst when they lose the ability to listen to experience and to criticism and, as we’ve seen in recent national scandals, the default response to error is often a cover-up driven by fear of litigation or self-interest.

By speaking out, I’m hoping to break the cycle. No business should have to fight a rigged game where criminals abuse the tax system while authorities look the other way. Fairness shouldn't be the finish line; it should be the starting position.

Richard Allen April 2026

NB: Episodes 1 - 6 are about my life starting and then running a record label and managing a band called Porcupine Tree - who went on to fill major venues all over the world. When I was asked about this period I initially questioned it's relevance but Leo Schick persuaded me that it was all context for what came next. If you want to avoid this rock n' roll section of the tale you can jump straight to the commencement of the tax battle with Episode 7 "The Channel Islands Loophole".