May 31, 2012 3.23 pm This story is over 142 months old

New taskforce to target Lincoln tax dodgers

Tax avoiders beware: A new taskforce has been set up in Lincoln to tackle rental property traders dodging taxes.
Everyone will be affected by the crisis, councillors have warned

HMRC has launched a new property rentals taskforce in Lincoln, aiming to recover £4 million from local tax dodgers.

The taskforces will be placed all over the UK in an attempt to stop those trying to avoid paying their taxes.

The specialist teams do “intensive bursts of activity” in high risk sectors or locations, examining trader’s records and holding investigations.

Lincoln’s taskforce is one of only 12 teams set up across the country this year. Thirty more are expected next year.

David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary, said: “HMRC is on target to collect more than £50m as a result of the taskforces launched in 2011/12.

“We have made it clear that we will not tolerate tax evasion – everyone needs to pay the taxes they owe in full.

“We are determined to crack down on the minority who choose to break the rules. It is not fair that at a time when most hard-working people are paying the right tax, others are trying to get out of paying what they should.”

HMRC’s Mike Eland, Director General Enforcement and Compliance, said: “These new taskforces will bring together specialists from across HMRC to tackle tax dodgers.

“If you have paid all your taxes you have nothing to worry about. But deliberately evading tax you should be paying can land you with not only a heavy fine but possibly a criminal prosecution as well.

“This is not an empty threat – HMRC can and will track you down if you choose to break the rules.”

Tax dodgers and fraudsters can be reported to HMRC on the Tax Evasion Hotline at 0800 788 887. More contact details on the HMRC website.

Source: HMRC