Tax Tribunal backlog soars following HMRC crackdown on fraudulent umbrella companies December 4, 2022 The backlog of cases waiting to be heard in the UK’s tax tribunal has surged following an HMRC crackdown on fraudulent “umbrella companies”. The number of cases waiting to be heard in the First-Tier Tax Tribunal has increased 84 per cent over the previous year to heights of 46,000, according to UK government figures. The [...]
Taxman grabs 30 per cent more from Brits over last five years November 23, 2022 The amount of money the taxman takes away from Brits has climbed 30 per cent over the last five years, City A.M. analysis of official figures shows. In the year to 31 October this year, HMRC collected £757bn in taxes, up from £584bn in 2015/16, stats out this week reveal. The rise in tax revenues [...]
Delinquent tax balloons to £38bn as HMRC walks ‘fine line’ to avoid mass insolvencies November 16, 2022 Unpaid tax has ballooned by 10 per cent to almost £38bn in the last three months of the year, but HMRC is concerned about triggering a wave of insolvencies. HMRC denied claims it is ramping up its debt collection, as it comes under increasing pressure to chase up delinquent payers in a time of economic [...]
HMRC sues EY following dispute over property tycoon’s tax affairs November 15, 2022 HMRC has filed a High Court lawsuit against EY over alleged misrepresentations to the UK tax authority in relation to British property investor Jamie Ritblat’s tax affairs. The case relates to a broader dispute between HMRC and the Tory donor over taxes on £141m in profits from Ritblat’s Delancey property investment firm, the Financial Times [...]
HMRC’s Covid fraud taskforce to leave billions unaccounted for November 14, 2022 An HMRC unit set up to tackle Covid fraud is set to leave £3.3bn outstanding when it winds down in March 2023, campaigners have warned. The Taxpayer Protection Taskforce, which was set up by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in March 2021, will be phased out, despite having collected less than 25 per cent of the money [...]
Value of UK business tax breaks hits record £105bn in past year alone November 14, 2022 The value of business tax reliefs in the UK hit £105.3bn in the past year, up from £100.3bn in 2020-21, shows new research shared with City A.M. this morning. The £105.3bn figure represents the combined cost estimated by HMRC for the 58 significant tax reliefs available to corporates. However, these represent just a fraction of [...]
Rise in capital gains tax on the cards as Chancellor Hunt scrambles to raise £50bn November 4, 2022 As the Chancellor is weighing up “difficult decisions” to address a £50bn black hole in the public finances, Jeremy Hunt is looking at raising taxes on the sale of assets such as shares and property. Hunt is also considering an increase in dividend tax, in a move that would come as a blow to entrepreneurs. [...]
Exclusive: 832,000 businesses face fines and missed VAT returns as new digital tax deadline is today November 1, 2022 UK VAT registered businesses who are yet to sign up for the so-called Making Tax Digital (MTD) by today will fall foul to non-compliance, penalties and an inability to file their VAT returns. The amount of businesses facing a default surcharge penalty is expected to significantly increase in November as a result of businesses being [...]
Tax authorities arrest eight people over alleged attacks on R&D incentives October 31, 2022 Tax authorities have arrested eight people over alleged “organised criminal attacks” on tax breaks for those carrying out research and development. The individuals are alleged to have set up more than 100 fake claims worth more than £16m, under the £7.4bn scheme which is designed to incentivize innovation by providing tax breaks for R&D, according [...]
Whistleblowing employees surge in tax fraud cases reported to HMRC October 17, 2022 Employees’ reports to HMRC over employers’ suspected tax evasion and fraud have increased by 11 per cent in the last year. Figures from HMRC have shown that over the past two years whistleblower accusations have almost doubled, from 8,900 in 2019/2020 to 15,100 in 2021/2022. Experts believe the increase is attributable to soaring numbers of [...]