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HMRC ramps up taskforce campaign

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16th Jul 2013
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HMRC has published the details of eight more taskforces ranging from the Scottish fishing industry to Midlands hauliers and the holiday industry around the country.

Since the taskforces got rolling in 2011 HMRC is now reporting they’ve raised more than £80m and expects to bring in more than £90m per year from new taskforces launched over the next three years.

The new taskforces include:

  • Road haulage, West Midlands
  • Restaurants, North East and Lincolnshire
  • Hauliers, Midlands
  • Holiday industry, North West
  • Holiday industry, South Wales
  • Holiday industry, North Wales
  • Holiday industry, South West
  • Fishing industry, Scotland

The most recent campaign, targeting the road haulage industry in the West Midlands, will specifically target drivers in the haulage industry on the M6 and M42 who are suspected of tax evasion and other criminal activity.

The HMRC-led operation includes officers from West Midlands Police, Central Motorway Patrol Group and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

So far the operation has resulted in 32 vehicles being stopped for a number offences including using rebated oil, using laundered fuel and drivers not being registered for self assessment, among other suspected offences.

Bob Gaiger from HMRC said: “Our intelligence suggests that there is a significant risk of under-declaration of tax within the haulage industry across the Midlands and it will not be tolerated. It deprives the community of funds and gives dishonest traders an unfair advantage over legitimate businesses.”

Tax dodgers in the restaurant trade in the North East and across Lincolnshire were next on the list and HMRC expects it to recover £3.8m from this sector.

HRMC has also launched other taskforces tackling tax evasion in the holiday industry in Blackpool (expected to recover £3m) and the Lake District; north and south Wales (expected to recover £5.5m), south west England (expected to recover £2.5m); and the fishing industry in Scotland (expected to recover £3.6m).

Since 2011 HMRC has launched 43 taskforces and a further 27 are planned for 2013-14, plus 30 for 2014-15. 

Replies (5)

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By the_Poacher
16th Jul 2013 15:08

"Real" cheats

These task forces seem to target groups where a significant percentage may have broken the letter of one or more laws.  Starbucks, Vodaphone, Amazon, Google et al may possillby have broken the spirit of the law, but no one has sggested that they've broken the letter of the law. Just what do you expect HMRC to do?

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Replying to DJKL:
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By Ian_mcdonald
23rd Jul 2013 13:03

spirit vs letter

the_Poacher wrote:

These task forces seem to target groups where a significant percentage may have broken the letter of one or more laws.  Starbucks, Vodaphone, Amazon, Google et al may possillby have broken the spirit of the law, but no one has sggested that they've broken the letter of the law. Just what do you expect HMRC to do?

The problem for the big boys is that they get lazy and can't be bothered to always leave the country to negotiate and sign the deals - then they end up breaking the letter of the law - so the revenue could go after them.
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By benten
16th Jul 2013 21:10

everyones a cheat
Whilst people maybe correct in believing the fat cats are immoral in the efforts they go to to minimise their liabilities. All of my clients want to minimise their tax liabilities, but they can only afford my limited skills and know how. Breaking the law gets on my wick and they deserve to get caught. What i don't like is hmrc's apparent lack of ability in identifying the proper clients to go after.

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By ShirleyM
17th Jul 2013 07:24

Agreed

I would like to see HMRC pursue people who operate 'serial' ltd co's for a year or two, make large profits, never submit anything or pay tax, close the company and start again with a new one. It seems to be tax evasion with the blessing and cooperation of HMRC & Co. Hse.

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By johnjenkins
17th Jul 2013 08:30

I watched

border control the other night. Customs targeted A classy Indian restaurant. Yes, lo and behold illegals working for "bed and board". Two of them had been caught before and were let off, as they were this time because they didn't have a passsport and border control had to wait at least 6 months before travel documents came through. This is just the tip of the iceberg. "Bed and Board (yer right)" perk, tax evasion? The point of this story is, that with all this going on and the big boys getting away with loopholes, it little wonder there is (according to HMRC) tax avoidance or even evasion by jeo public. Of course it's not right but until Government "get a grip" it will get worse. As someone previously posted HMRC need to stop hitting the tax payers who are actually putting money into the economy.

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