HM Revenue & Customs are increasing their campaign to stop tax evasion, avoidance and fraud, with scrap dealers in Scotland being their next target. Previous campaigns have concentrated on restaurants, plumbers, doctors, dentists and more recently, owners of overseas properties.

HMRC will concentrate on scrap dealers in Scotland, who make false expenses claims or don’t declare all their income, known as moonlighting. Builders in the North West of England will also be targeted by the taxman, to ensure all taxes due are paid. The Exchequer Secretary for the Treasury, David Gaulke issued a stark warning to anyone who doesn’t comply with tax legislation. He said:

“This taskforce will come down hard on scrap metal dealers and their customers or suppliers who have chosen to break the rules or deliberately evade the tax they should be paying. This is just the start.”

Builders who are situated in North Wales and the North West of England will be subject to the same scrutiny, which could lead to investigation by HMRC. Landlords will face intense scrutiny if they have more than three properties, to ensure all income is declared. Specified sectors are being concentrated on for short intervals, increasing pressure on taxpayers to declare all income and pay all taxes due. The latest measures are part of a tax campaign to tackle fraud, tax avoidance and tax evasion. Following investment from the government, HMRC aim to collect £7 billion every year by 2015, narrowing the tax gap.

Want to learn more?

Subscribe to our newsletter to get accounting tips like this right to your inbox

About The Author

Gary Fields

Content Writer working alongside our expert accountants to bring you the latest Tax and Accounting news.

More posts by this author