HMRC Targets Specific Tax Evaders

HM Revenue & Customs has launched a crackdown on tax dodging scrap metal merchants, construction traders, fast food outlets and landlords.

HMRC has set up five taskforces to tackle tax evasion around the UK, targeting:

Scrap metal dealers in Scotland, focusing on those who are deliberately suppressing their income or inflating expenditure to evade paying tax

Construction traders who are self employed or run their own company who suppress sales or over-claim expenses in the North West and North Wales Taxpayers not submitting their statutory returns across Corporation Tax, Income tax Self

Assessment, PAYE and VAT in the South East Fast food outlets deliberately falsifying their records and mis-declaring their true sales levels to avoid paying the correct taxes in Scotland

Landlords – owning or renting three or more properties – evading their tax responsibilities in North West and North Wales.

David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary, said: 'We will not tolerate those who break the rules. 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.'

'It doesn’t matter who you are - HMRC can and will track you down. You will face a heavy fine, a possible criminal prosecution and ultimately jail. Honest businesses have nothing to worry about.'