UK Outlines 2012 Tax Enforcement Plans

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

13 February 2012

The UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has outlined that in the coming year it will focus its tax enforcement efforts on taxpayers that fail to make tax returns and those that are liable to pay tax at the highest personal income tax rates, as well as launching targeted campaigns in two specific sectors, tradespeople working in the home improvement market and those who receive income from buying and selling goods direct to others or who are paid commission.

HMRC is to leverage new technology to search the internet for information about specific, targeted people and businesses, the agency said.

As with previous campaigns, the focus of the new campaigns will be on providing those in the selected groups, who may not be paying the tax they owe, a chance to put their affairs in order on the best possible terms, HMRC said.

Marian Wilson, of HMRC’s Risk and Intelligence, said:

“Most people pay their taxes in full and on time, so it is right that HMRC works hard to secure payment from those who have not come forward.”

“Using new technology, we have been able to analyze returns to HMRC covering a range of taxes and to cross-reference these with other information to build a picture of where we believe we have taxpayers with missing returns.”

“We will use the same technology to analyze information gathered to support the following two campaigns and for each campaign, after the opportunity has closed, we will use the information we have to pursue those who choose not to use the chances we provide to put their affairs in order.”

“We are offering all the people targeted the opportunity to come forward. Penalties will be higher if we come and find people after the opportunity. A criminal investigation may also result. I therefore urge them to disclose unpaid tax voluntarily.”

Two campaigns that will be launched before the end of 2011/12 will focus on:

• E-marketplaces. This will cover those who are using e-marketplaces to buy and sell goods as a trade or business and who fail to pay the tax owed. People who only sell a few items and who are not traders are unlikely to be liable to tax and will not be targeted by this campaign.
• Electricians. This will build on HMRC’s plumbers’ campaign and give an opportunity to another group of tradespeople to come forward and declare unpaid tax.

More than GBP500m (USD790m) has been raised by HMRC from voluntary disclosures and a further GBP105m from follow-up activity. Previous campaigns have targeted offshore investments, medical professionals, plumbers, VAT defaulters and private tutors.

Recommended