A new taskforce to
tackle VAT abuse in London’s fast food outlets was announced today
by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
HMRC has identified that there is a problem with some fast food
outlets deliberately falsifying their records and mis-declaring
their true sales levels in order to avoid paying the correct
taxes.
Mike Wells, HMRC's Director of Risk and Intelligence,
said:
“This taskforce will come down hard on fast food outlets that
have chosen to break the rules and evade the taxes they should be
paying. Honest businesses have absolutely nothing to worry about.
“This taskforce comes hard on the heels of one launched last
month targeting the restaurant sector in London. If you
deliberately seek to evade tax HMRC can and will track you down,
and you’ll face not only a heavy fine, but possibly a criminal
prosecution as well.”
This is the 4th taskforce launched by HMRC since May 2011. HMRC
is planning a further nine taskforces in 2011/12, with more to
follow in 2012/13. The taskforces come as a result of the
Government’s £900m spending review investment to tackle tax
evasion, avoidance and fraud from 2011/12, which aims to raise an
additional £7bn each year by 2014/15.
If you are aware of someone who is evading their taxes you can
tell us via the Tax Evasion Hotline by phone on 0800 788 887, via
the email hotline, or by post full details can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk
Notes for editors
Taskforces
bring together various HMRC compliance and enforcement teams for
intensive bursts of activity targeted at specific sectors and
locations where there is evidence of high risk of tax evasion. The
first taskforces were launched targeted the restaurant trade on 12
May 2011.
The taskforces are part of the department’s broader work to
tackle evasion and avoidance, including Managing Deliberate
Defaulters and offshore penalties.
Compliance activity through taskforces is 1:1 and targets the
highest-risk cases in that sector and location, typically focusing
on groups of up to around 600 customers in specific locations.
Follow HMRC on Twitter @HMRCgovuk
NAT 61/11
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Contacts:
HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
HMRC-Press-office.NDSmanagement@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Jonathan Hall
Phone: 020 7147 0052
jonathan.hall@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Sara Pont
Phone: 020 7147 0394
sara.pont@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk