HMRC launches new taskforces
HMRC taskforces are comprised of multiple teams from across HMRC including special investigations, local compliance and criminal investigation units for targeting specific sectors and locations where there is a high risk of tax evasion.
The taskforces use local knowledge and risk profiling to help create a list of businesses to target. The taskforces also use special software to uncover business areas where tax evasion is common place as well as to target specific businesses.
New specialist taskforces have recently been launched to target the following sectors:
- The private security industry in London and the South East.
- The construction industry in London.
- Taxpayers residing in the Midlands with ‘hidden wealth’.
- The second-hand motor trade in the Midlands.
The launch of the new taskforces are part of the Government’s £900m investment to tackle tax evasion, avoidance and fraud. HMRC aim to raise an additional £7bn each year by 2014/15 from this investment. The taskforces are part of HMRC’s wider remit to tackle evasion and avoidance which includes targeted campaigns including the recently launched tax return initiative.
In tandem with the launch of the new taskforces, HMRC is running the second stage of its evasion publicity campaign through a series of targeted advertisements, including radio advertising and over 3,000 billboards in public areas.