Tax cheats are being called on to disclose all their income to HMRC before they are ‘caught’.
HMRC have launched a new advertising campaign targeting those individuals who ‘moonlight’ or do jobs for ‘cash in hand’ as well as those who don’t declare investment income, have hidden assets in offshore accounts or who haven’t registered for VAT.
Jennie Granger, HMRC’s new Director General, Enforcement and Compliance, explains that, ‘Most people pay the right tax. Our campaign is aimed at those who don’t.’ For those people who do evade tax she has this message, ‘please don’t fool yourself that HMRC won’t do anything – it is only a matter of time before we catch up with you.’
The adverts, which will appear on outdoor billboards, warn potential tax evaders that new technology and increased staff numbers at HMRC, means that any tax dodging will be discovered and punished.
David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, warns about the HMRC crackdown. ‘Tax dodgers are simply storing up trouble for the future; getting caught means higher fines, and in the most serious cases criminal prosecution’. Gauke urges anyone worried about the tax they pay to visit the new website for the campaign, www.gov.uk/sortmytax
The ad, designed by M&C Saatchi, has been funded using a fraction of the £917 million that the government invested in 2011 to tackle tax evasion, avoidance and fraud.
