News

HMRC are now targetting thousands of tax evaders and have launched its first sixteen criminal investigations folowing its tax amnesties.

It is reported that there ar several thousand more offshore related enquiries related to the NDO and information from banks regarding offshore accounts has already begun.

Currently criminal investigations have been aimed at specific categories of taxpayer and have netted nearly £500m for the treasury. The offshore disclosure facilty and other more recent disclosure facilities such as the plumbers amnesty have resulted in collections of £485 million from over fifty thousand voluntary disclosures.

Hmrc is remqining to true to its stated remit of delivering prosecutions from the open investigations giving a clear indication that it is stepping up their crusade against tax evasion and non compliance.

By its stance of opening criminal investigations into those withinthe medical profession HMRC is demonstrating that it is prepared to take on any sector in which it feels there is a high risk of tax non compliance.

Note last month HMRC launched investigations into London restaurant owners as part of an 'industry specific' approach. This new approach is a part of the 'new era for tax compliance' where skilled teams will target a particular sector.