Property searches by HMRC to target tax evasion jumped by 12% in the last year to 500, up from 445 property raids in 2012/13, according to data obtained by law firm Pinsent Masons. This is more than triple the number of property raids that HMRC undertook each year between 2008 and 2011.
Jason Collins, head of tax at Pinsent Masons, said: ‘HMRC is making a huge effort to up the ante against tax evasion, raiding more properties and arresting more suspects to keep up with its criminal prosecutions target. HMRC is also casting its net wider, not only going after the very biggest suspected tax evaders but also increasingly targeting middle class professionals, like bankers and lawyers. Even though the value of the tax evaded in those cases is relatively low, HMRC is keen to pursue those cases to the bitter end as a deterrent to other tax evaders.’
Property searches by HMRC to target tax evasion jumped by 12% in the last year to 500, up from 445 property raids in 2012/13, according to data obtained by law firm Pinsent Masons. This is more than triple the number of property raids that HMRC undertook each year between 2008 and 2011.
Jason Collins, head of tax at Pinsent Masons, said: ‘HMRC is making a huge effort to up the ante against tax evasion, raiding more properties and arresting more suspects to keep up with its criminal prosecutions target. HMRC is also casting its net wider, not only going after the very biggest suspected tax evaders but also increasingly targeting middle class professionals, like bankers and lawyers. Even though the value of the tax evaded in those cases is relatively low, HMRC is keen to pursue those cases to the bitter end as a deterrent to other tax evaders.’
.jpg?sfvrsn=335a554c_0 "300 x 250 (MPU)")