Online Map Pinpoints Tax Cheats
An online map pinpointing tax cheats around the country, together with their crimes and sentences, was launched earlier this year by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The map allows people to see the impact of HMRC’s enforcement work.
It shows convictions resulting in jail sentences since April 2013, and the locations of HMRC taskforces since they were introduced in 2011. It is planned to be expanded to include non-custodial sentences since April 2013.
The interactive site also features the results of HMRC taskforces targeting specific trades and professions, as well as details of people caught and jailed as a result of investigations by HMRC’s Criminal Investigation teams.
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said “HMRC’s investigators are catching tax cheats in every corner of the country and we want people to be able to see the outcome of this enforcement action.” He called it “yet another example of how the government is making HMRC’s work more transparent.”
HMRC’s Chief Executive, Lin Homer, said “This map shows the scale of our criminal investigation operations, so tax cheats should be seriously worried that HMRC is coming for them next.”
The site is being launched as a pilot. This will allow HMRC to add further information and seek customer feedback. It can be found at: http://hmrcdigitalpilots.com.
Please note: This article is a commentary on general principles and should not be interpreted as advice for your specific situation.
Image courtesy of Mister GC at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
