More tax cheats to feel the force

The first taskforces to tackle tax cheats in the rag trade and alcohol industry were launched today by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

The specialist taskforce teams will target those who do not pay the right amount of tax in:

the rag trade in the Midlands, North Wales and North West, including manufacturing, wholesale, retail and textile recycling;

the alcohol industry in Scotland, including Aberdeen and Inverness;

the rental property sector in the South East;

They are expected to recover around £17 million.

David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary, said:

“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. 

“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:

“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. 

“If you know anyone who is evading their taxes you 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. 

HMRC has launched 30 taskforces since May 2011. 

Taskforces are a result of the Government’s £917 million spending review investment to tackle tax evasion, avoidance and fraud from 2011-12, which aims to raise an additional £7 billion each year by 2014-15. 

Notes for Editor

Taskforces bring together various HMRC compliance and enforcement teams for intensive bursts of activity targeted at specific sectors and locations where there is evidence of high risk of tax evasion. The first taskforce targeted the restaurant trade from 12 May 2011. 

Compliance activity through taskforces is 1:1 and targets the highest-risk cases in a particular sector and location, typically focusing on groups of up to around 300 customers. 

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