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