HMRC: TAKING RISKS WITH COMPLIANCE?

摘要

With the continuing media interest in tax avoidance and political pressure to reduce the 'tax gap', there is an increased urgency for HMRC to show it is developing a more focused, risk-based approach to tax compliance. Indeed, at the Autumn Statement it was confirmed that HMRC will receive an additional ￡77m to be used to expand its anti-avoidance and evasion activity. HMRC has published several briefing papers outlining its various methods to tackle perceived issues, all of which highlight the importance of keeping up-to-date records and making compliance disclosures. The government clearly feels that this additional investment (at a time when HMRC is being asked to make cost savings and reduce its head count) will help further increase the tax yield and it has estimated that the new funding will secure around ￡2bn in additional tax revenue.