Individuals or businesses believed to be evading tax can now be reported on line by members of the public to HMRC via a dedicated on-line reporting section of HMRC's website. This new reporting facility is part of increased efforts by HMRC to clamp down on tax evasion.

The on-line reporting facility will be implemented in addition to other reporting facilities in place such as the “The Tax Evasion Hotline”, set up in October 2005, and the “Customs Hotline”, established in 1998 which handles all types of smuggling, particularly drugs, illegal alcohol or tobacco sales or tax fraud.

Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

“Information provided by the public is important and HMRC takes all allegations seriously.” While Chartered Accountants Ireland supports measures to eliminate tax evasion, a number of risk measuring factors must be considered in addition to reports of suspected tax evasion by the public before a taxpayer is subjected to an audit or investigation by HMRC.

Full details of the new reporting facility are reproduced below at 2.09.