Could you be put on the Tax Offenders’ Register?

April 1st, 2010

The taxman is now allowed to override confidentiality to name and shame tax evaders.  From 1st April 2010 it’s no joke for anyone the taxman thinks has a tax fraud of more than £25,000.  The tax office will publish names and “sufficient further information” to allow tax fiddlers to be identified, if an individual or company director has not made a full disclosure to HMRC (e.g. prompted disclosures under the HMRC Code of Practice 9, Civil Investigation of Fraud procedures).

This punishment by public humiliation is on top of potential 100% penalties for “deliberate understatement”.  There’s a further 100% maximum penalty (i.e. an eye watering 200%), where an offshore bank account is involved.

The details published will be the “minimum necessary” to identify the person and the offence:  e.g. name, address, nature of business, period covered, amount of tax and penalty.  The taxman will put the Tax Offenders Register on the HMRC website and issue a press release.
How could it affect me?
Major worries to any business proprietor “named and shamed” on the tax offenders register include the potential for: credit refusal from lenders and suppliers; loss of customers’ goodwill; refusal by customers to pay in advance or leave deposits; a negative impact on the valuation of the business. The impact on families could also be extremely stressful.

What safeguards will there be?

• The decisions which underpin the scheme can be appealed to the independent Tax Tribunal.  If the Tribunalfeels there is no evaded tax, or that the understatement was not deliberate, then the taxman cannot use ‘Naming and Shaming’;
• Publication is not allowed until all appeal opportunities are finalised;
• The taxpayer must be notified and given reasonable opportunity to make representations;
• The taxpayer will be sent an advance copy of the details HMRC intend to publish;
• HMRC must publish within 12 months of the penalty becoming final and remove material 12 months later;
• HMRC will not publish your address if you can be identified without it and without potential for you to be confused for another person.
• HMRC will not publish at all in certain exceptional circumstances, after taking into account representations by the taxpayer.

How can Lynam Tax Enquiry Experts help me?
If you are undergoing a tax investigation or a compliance check then specialist help from Lynam Tax Enquiry Experts could save your blushes and your business.  Plus, our massive experience will almost certainly save you tax and penalties as well.
*For a free, confidential chat about your tax affairs, don’t delay, call Paul Lynam now on 0845 643 9997.