100 extra Tax Inspectors to target the “affluent”

HM Revenue and Customs Affluent Compliance Team is recruiting 100 additional tax inspectors as part of the government’s drive to squeeze more tax out of the middle classes: bringing its complement up to 230 staff – based in 6 locations across the UK.

Rich Pickings
The Affluent Compliance Team targets the 300,000 taxpayers with income over £150,000 or wealth between £2.5 and £20 million.  By the end of December 2012 the unit had brought in an extra £75 million in tax – well ahead of expectations – with a target of £586 million by the end of 2015.

The Exchequer secretary said: “The vast majority of people pay their way. Dodging tax is immoral, illegal and unaffordable and the minority who cheat are increasingly finding that, thanks to the work of the Affluent Team, they have made a big mistake.”

In addition to recruiting HMRC trained tax inspectors HMRC are also advertising for:  “people with external experience and appropriate qualifications…and people with recent commercial and corporate experience in personal tax…And as  good quality intelligence is central to catching the tax cheats, we are expanding our Affluent Intelligence Unit fourfold”.

The taxman says the Affluent Compliance Team’s targets are taxpayers who:

  • habitually use tax avoidance schemes;
  • have a low effective rate of tax across their total income and gains;
  • have bank accounts in Switzerland or other offshore tax havens;
  • do not file their Self Assessment tax return on time;
  • avoid or evade Stamp Duty on property purchases;
  • have property portfolios – whether in the UK or offshore.

What does this mean for me?
If you get a tax enquiry notice from HMRC’s Affluence Unit then you know that they are aiming to secure a significant payment of extra tax, interest and penalties.  The Affluence Unit is staffed by specialists.  You need specialist help on your side to deal with this serious tax investigation.  Many accountants and tax advisers prefer to outsource the tax enquiry work to specialists such as us.  Lynam Tax Enquiry Experts have over 70 years full-time experience of handling HMRC tax enquiries. We have huge experience of dealing with high net-worth individuals’ tax issues; and can be relied upon for integrity and discretion.

If you or your clients are facing a compliance check from the Affluent Compliance Team please call today – for a free and wholly confidential no obligation discussion. Call:

Paul Lynam: 0845 643 9997
or Andrew Nutbrown: 0771 877 8710