Health workers given one week to pay their tax or face taskforce

Workers in the health and wellbeing professions who have taxable income that they haven’t revealed have one week to pay the tax they owe, or risk HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) taskforce action.

Under the Health and Wellbeing Tax Plan, health professionals have until 6 April 2014 to disclose details and pay the tax owed.

HMRC is identifying people who fail to use the campaign, but need to catch up and pay what they owe. They could face investigation by an HMRC taskforce, which will visit the selected professionals to examine their records and carry out other investigations.

The Health and Wellbeing Tax Plan campaign covers physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, chiropodists, podiatrists, homeopaths, dieticians, nutritional therapists, reflexologists, acupuncturists, psychologists, speech, language and art therapists and others.

By using the campaign to come forward, any penalty the health workers might have to pay will be lower than if HMRC goes to them first.

David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said:

“We have made nearly £1 billion available to HMRC to police the tax rules. Taskforces are making a major contribution to delivering on this commitment by directly intervening where HMRC suspects the rules are being abused. These taskforces have brought in £136 million since 2011, which is tax that would otherwise have gone into the pockets of tax cheats.” 

HMRC’s Jennie Granger, Director General of Enforcement and Compliance, said:

“Health professionals have been given every opportunity to take advantage of our quick and straightforward way of bringing their tax affairs up to date.

“We will now use information we hold from third parties and regulatory bodies to identify people who have not paid what they owe. Penalties – or even criminal prosecution – could follow.”

For more details, plus help and support about the campaign, people can visit HMRC’s website – www.gov.uk/voluntary-disclosure-health-wellbeing – or call a dedicated health and wellbeing campaign helpline on 0845 600 4507.

HMRC gets information about payments made to the health and wellbeing professions from numerous sources, and uses advanced technological tools to help identify people who have failed to pay the right amount of tax.

The Health and Wellbeing Tax Plan is not aimed at doctors and dentists, who were covered by a previous HMRC campaign.

Notes for editors

1.  People who have undeclared tax can get help through an HMRC YouTube video:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP6xMaiiYw4

2.  Since 2007, HMRC campaigns have collected over £552 million in tax from people coming to HMRC, and over £224 million from a large number of follow-up activities by HMRC. A number of criminal investigations are underway and seven people have been convicted, with custodial sentences handed out of up to two years. Those convicted have between them had to pay over £550,000.

3.  HMRC has collected more than £136 million as a result of taskforces launched since 2011-12. It expects to bring in over £90 million a year from taskforces launched in 2014-15.

4.  HMRC campaigns have targeted offshore investments, doctors, dentists, plumbers, VAT defaulters, coaches and tutors, property lettings, electricians, online traders and higher rate taxpayers with outstanding tax returns.

5.  Anyone who would like to disclose unpaid tax to HMRC can call the Campaign Voluntary Disclosure helpline on 0845 601 5041 at any time.

6.  Further information on HMRC campaigns: www.hmrc.gov.uk/campaigns/news.htm

7.  Follow HMRC on Twitter @HMRCgovuk