A Christchurch businessman has been sentenced to 18-months' home detention, after failing to pay over $400,000 in tax.

Richard Lascelles, who operated three scaffolding businesses in the city, has also been fined $180,000 for the crime.

Inland Revenue's Patrick Goggin says cheating the system to rip off honest taxpayers is a disgrace.

He says the department is now working to recover the money.