Crackdown On Scots Tax Dodgers

Wealthy Scots are being targeted by a new taskforce cracking down on tax avoidance.

HM Revenue and Customs is targeting people with what they call 'badges of wealth', such as private jets, mansions and yachts. They're hoping to recover £4.5million from undeclared offshore bank accounts. Edinburgh businessman Garry Gibson was fined and electronically tagged in March this year for defrauding £220,000.

Michael Connolly, HMRC Taskforce Lead in Scotland, said: "HMRC’s intelligence shows that people being targeted by this taskforce have no intention of playing by the rules. They are deliberately failing to declare all their income to HMRC in a crude attempt to line their own pockets, and they will be investigated. As a result of this behaviour, they could end up facing a heavy fine or even a criminal conviction. Those who pay the tax they are supposed to have nothing to worry about.
 
"Using information we hold, we can target people whose lifestyle does not reflect the tax they are paying. It’s not fair that a small minority are living millionaire lifestyles as a result of not paying the tax they owe."

If you know someone who is evading their taxes, tell HMRC by calling the Tax Evasion Hotline on 0800 788 887.