Guernsey Sets Up Hotline For Tax-Cheat Tip-Offs

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

19 April 2007

Guernsey's Treasury and Resources Department has set up a Tax Evasion Hotline which will allow taxpayers to report people they suspect of evading tax. There is also a confidential e-mail address for the same purpose.

'Having heard from the Administrator' says a press release, 'that it is common for him to receive information, often in the form of anonymous letters, from concerned taxpayers about others who they believe to be evading tax, Treasury & Resources Department has authorised the Administrator to establish a telephone Tax Evasion Hotline that can be used by members of the public to pass on this information directly to an officer at Income Tax.

'The Administrator will treat information given via the Tax Evasion Hotline in the strictest confidence. Callers can remain anonymous if they wish, although they will be encouraged to leave contact details in case it is later necessary to refer back to them for clarification or to establish if they have other useful information. If the Administrator is in possession of the full facts, the more likely it is that he will be able to tackle the tax evasion being reported.'

The Tax Evasion Hotline will appear in the 2007 Telephone Directory under the entry for “Income Tax”. The Hotline can be used immediately, however, and the dedicated telephone number is 747900. Information can also be sent to a dedicated e-mail address: hotline@tax.gov.gg.

In addition, in the near future, the Administrator intends to have a facility through the Income Tax website (www.gov.gg/tax) for members of the public to pass on information confidentially by completing a form, and submitting it, electronically.

The Income Tax Office formed its Compliance & Investigation Unit during 1988, principally to tackle cases of tax evasion and tax avoidance, although it is tasked with all aspects of compliance with Income Tax legislation.

Recommended