‘The vast majority of people play by the rules. We will not tolerate tax evasion and will crack down on the minority who choose to break the rules. It cannot be fair that, while most people are paying the right tax, a tiny minority are not paying what they should,’ said David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary.
It expects to recover nearly £4 million and Gauke added that HMRC is on target to collect more than £50 million as a result of taskforces launched in 2011/12.
HMRC’s Jennie Granger, director general enforcement and compliance, said that HMRC is serious about tackling people who are not paying what they should. ‘Anyone deliberately evading tax should watch out, HMRC is closing in on tax cheats,’ she added.
She pointed out that anyone who knows someone who is evading their taxes can tell HMRC via the Tax Evasion Hotline by phone, on 0800 788 887, email or by post.
Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of activity in specific high risk trade sectors and locations in the UK. The teams will visit traders to examine their records and carry out other investigations.
