Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#1
FROM HMRC:
A new taskforce to tackle tax dodgers in Kent's restaurants was launched by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) today. Expected to recover more than £2.5 million, the taskforce will target those who do not pay the right amount of tax in restaurants in the South East and Solent.
Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of activity in specific high risk trade sectors and locations in the UK. The teams will visit traders to examine their records and carry out other investigations.
David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary, said:
"We have made it clear that we will not tolerate tax evasion and we are determined to crack down on the minority who choose to break the rules. Everyone needs to pay the taxes they owe in full. 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:
"This taskforces bring together specialists from across HMRC to find people who are not paying what they should. If you have paid all your taxes you have nothing to worry about. But for those deliberately evading tax, be warned that HMRC is coming after you.
"This is not an empty threat - HMRC can and will track you down if you choose to break the rules. We are on target to collect more than £50 million as a result of taskforces launched in 2011/12."
HMRC has launched 30 taskforces since May 2011.
Taskforces are a result of the Government's £917 million spending review investment to tackle tax evasion, avoidance and fraud from 2011/12, which aims to raise an additional £7 billion each year by 2014/15.
If you are aware of someone who is evading their taxes you can tell HMRC via the Tax Evasion Hotline by phone, on 0800 788 887, email or by post.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#2
Looks like the government were serious about chasing tax evasion and tax avoidance. But will they be able to catch those highly skilled avoiders with teams of accountants and so on, in other words the big players. We need them to pay too.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#3
"Looks like..."
I can't, for the life of me, recall the tune - but there must be one - and lyrics too, that somehow also evade remembrance.
Definitely the sort of thing for the Proms, certainly it would be sung in it's entirety at the close of all Civil-Servant Christmas parties to send all home with heart up-lifted and spirits a-soaring.
Perhaps the chorus/refrain...burden, if you will - could justly be guessed at...
"The law's the law, and justly so
affecting the whole Nation
we Tax Inspectors boldly-go
to harass those of lowly station"
Come to think of it, that is most probably verse one. Or a skit penned by some office wag, don't you know. Who knows, but the whole may come to me in the course of the day.
[See link below for illustration of the following...]
To get to the point. These storm-troopers/ledger-snoopers will have to squeeze quite a few stones ere one yields-up some blood.* Given that the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise are often the victims in Insolvency and Bankruptcy proceedings this exercise may be no more than a herding of woe.
If they were to identify shortcomings in book-keeping, and threaten to return, things could improve, but if the intention is to issue demands for payment (calculated through statistical niceties rather than intense investigation) these demands may very well be the final straw to many a small business.
*
http://devsnippets.com/article/nature-camouflage-animal-photography.htmlIgnorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#4
Also see `elite greedy pigs....# 1346.....
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
#5
If I get anymore letters for them addressed to Mr Ives deceased I am going to suggest they contact Most Haunted for them to conduct a seance, grrrrrr!
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#6
I have heard of that particularly distressing circumstance before Lesley. As it is something that could be rectified with ease the opportunity to tell somebody in person of the obvious appalling nature of this error may appeal to you. There is a telephone number among the information in the link below...
http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/contactus/view.page?record=7JTJEvPnPuoIgnorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#7
0845 300 0627 = 01355 359022 Taxes Helpline
This is "overseas" number. Withhold your number (using 141) when calling from UK or else the call will be blocked. Expect to be told off for not using premium number!
If you wish Lesley you could use the above '01' number, which may be free from your land line, remembering the auto-message options explained in the link in #6.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
#8
Many thanks Tom, i'll give that a go.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#9
lesley,i know a good medium you can give the tax office.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
#10
Careful what you wish for, go to any of the small cafes in the town, you'll pay in cash. These people are struggling to make ends meet, the last thing they need is a gimp from HMRC snooping around.
And phone a helpline to report a tax dodger?
Hypocrites the lot of you, don't you use a window cleaner, a lad to clean your car, or pay the builder in cash?
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#11
David, I doubt whether any of those who have posted in this thread are cheering, quite the reverse.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
#12
Really? I read on here about tax evasion all the time, look at Reg's post 4.
My point is EVERYBODY pays as little tax as possible, now the govt wants us to report people who dodge more than the next man, its spiteful and divisive.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#13
"spiteful and divisive" Without question, this is true.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
bit out of order david, i haven't seen anyone on here suggest "shopping" a cafe/restaurant.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
#15
Thats not what I said Howard, I said the govt is out of order for inviting citizens to report tax dodgers.
The point is we are ALL tax dodgers, you, me, everyone on the forum. Those who complain about it are hypocrites.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#16
This world of ours David, cannot be neatly divided between Saints & Sinners. There is ever a balance to be struck.
If one person was to witness, at some distance, the act of another:putting an animal out of it's misery, say. That one person is not right to conclude that all animals are there to be killed whenever the fancy strikes.
The individual or business, on the small scale, is in no way removing money from the economy by 'saving' the odd pound by paying cash here and there. This behaviour while not being in every way right, is not entirely wrong.
The 'hypocrisy' is in the way the basic concept; the best way to help my neighbour is to help myself - first and foremost, is skewed to include, "until I am satisfied that I have all that I wish to have...then we'll see"
"until I am satisfied that I have all that I wish to have...then we'll see"
Does not seem to me to play a part in the everyday 'swindle', but it is at the heart of the motivation of all who desire to abstract cash from the UK economy. For they then insist that 'their' money continues to work for their own personal benefit while paying lip-service only to the greater good.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#17
Yet again it is the wrong end of the spectrum that is being targeted, in my opinion.
Yet again it will cost more to administrate this taskforce than will be recovered by it, in my opinion.
The number of low paid workers who fail to disclose their tips to the tax man will be the easy targets and boost the numbers of tax dodgers caught in the act.
The truth is David is right, we probably all have been guilty of tax evasion in one way or another and all technically broke the law but we also know that is not what we are referring to today.
It is Tax evasion/avoidance on the bigger scale that should be targeted and wiped out.
Like the 20 businessmen who have fled UK owing the Treasury a total of £765m.
Like banks and business's who have used avoidance schemes fraudulently to releave their customers of £Trillions.
Like many other big business's that do deals with HMRC.
This is where a task force should be set up, with the same set of rules, to prevent these frauds from occurring in the first place.
In my opinion.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#18
no david in post 10 you said that we are all hypocrites, an accusation about me that i most certainly resent .
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
#19
Sometimes I have to eat my words and I have to say this time, I am pleased to do so.
This is definitely a step in the right direction and what needs and should be done.
Although I think they should be named and shamed.
The Swiss government has agreed to tax money held by UK taxpayers in Swiss bank accounts for the first time, while still hiding their identity.
The deal could see up to £5bn a year being handed to HMRC by the Swiss authorities.
The agreement is the latest part of HMRC's efforts to track down and tax money hidden in offshore bank accounts.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
#20
Howard, apologies if I've caused offence, my point is we all contribute, whether deliberately or not, to tax evasion every time we pay in cash.