HM Revenue and Customs has set up a new page on its website to allow taxpayers to report those they suspect of not being entirely honest when it comes to their tax affairs.
The new facility has been announced as the government's offensive against tax avoidance and evasion is about to step up another gear, with additional HMRC information and penalty powers likely to be proposed in the pre-budget report, due to be unveiled before the end of the year.
According to Financial Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms, HMRC made more than 870,000 compliance interventions, identifying almost GBP12bn in extra tax due, seizing GBP57m in assets and GBP9m in cash and bringing 171 successful prosecutions.
Since 2005 over GBP42m has been recovered as a result of information received directly from members of the public through the taxman’s confidential hotlines. According to the government, the new facility, enabling members of the public to raise their concerns online, builds on HMRC’s "cross tax approach to compliance, helping to identify and tackle high-risk cases early on."
Under its new behaviourally based system of penalties HMRC can now charge penalties of up to 100% for those individuals who deliberately evade tax.
“We are committed to ensuring the tax system operates fairly and efficiently, and encourage anyone to share their information on activities they think may be unlawful. Reporting your concerns online is quick and easy," said Timms. "By doing so you will be helping us to catch people who are unfairly competing with honest businesses and denying funding for essential public services."
“Being able to report potential tax evasion online is just the latest step in demonstrating that for tax cheats the game is up," he added. “Information provided by the public is important and HMRC takes all allegations seriously."
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