WIREDGOV

Report tax cheats online

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 24 September 2009

NAT 63/09

You can now use the internet to report to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) any individuals or businesses that you believe may be evading their tax at www.hmrc.gov.uk/tax-evasion.

Clamping down on those who try to cheat the system through evading taxes is a key priority for HMRC and since 2005 over £42 million has been recovered as a result of information received directly from members of the public through the taxman’s confidential hotlines. The money is put back into the system to fund vital public services.

In addition, information received through the hotlines has led to the successful recovery of 320kg of class A drugs, along with 27 million illegal cigarettes and 9.7 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco, which is equivalent to £6 million of revenue.

This 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.

Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

“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. 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.

“Information provided by the public is important and HMRC takes all allegations seriously.”

Notes to Editors

1. The Tax Evasion Hotline, set up in October 2005, deals with Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, Tax Credits and National Insurance and can be contacted on 0800 788 887.

2. The Customs Hotline, established in 1998, handles all types of smuggling, particularly drugs, illegal alcohol or tobacco sales or tax fraud. Calls made from UK landlines to 0800 59 5000 are free, or contact us via the website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs-hotline/ .

3. You can also write to us at our Freepost address:

Freepost RSBT – YCYX – JYTK
HM Revenue & Customs
Tax Evasion Hotline Team
Albert Bridge House
1 Bridge Street
Manchester
M60 9DX

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office

Press enquiries only please contact:

Contacts:

HMRC Out of Hours
Phone: 07860 359544
NDS.HMRC@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Andrew Bennett
Phone: 020 7147 0051
andrew.bennett3@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk