Carewell, 49, set up MPC Heating and Plumbing and traded as a self employed plumber, but never registered his earnings with the tax office.
Chris Martin, HM Revenue & Customs assistant director, Criminal Investigation, said: “Careswell stole from UK taxpayers by failing to pay tax due on his earnings and now he must face the consequences of his actions in jail.
“HMRC is clamping down on plumbers and those in other trades who attempt to commit tax evasion, and the sentence given to Careswell will act as a deterrent. I ask anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to call the Tax Evasion Hotline on 0800 788 887.”
HMRC investigators are targeting plumbers, gas fitters and heating engineers who failed to take the opportunity offered during last year’s Plumbers Tax Safe Plan, to put their tax affairs in order on the best possible terms.
Those who came forward have already stumped up over £4m in outstanding tax.
Careswell was arrested last August and pleaded guilty to the offence at Kingston Crown Court and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
Confiscation proceedings are underway.