The number of taxpayers arrested by HMRC for suspected tax evasion fell to a five-year low in the last tax year. The 782 arrests made in 2018/19 were 11% lower than in 2017/18.
According to law firm RPC, the reduction may be the result of HMRC taking a less aggressive approach following a number of claims brought by taxpayers for wrongful arrest. Adam Craggs, partner at RPC, said he hoped the fall in arrests was ‘a consequence of HMRC having a better understanding of their power of arrest and when it is appropriate to exercise that power’.
HMRC has around 1,500 officers with the power to arrest a person. However, there are safeguards around the use of this power, and where taxpayers under investigation for tax evasion have agreed to attend a voluntary interview under caution, HMRC should not ordinarily make an arrest, so long as the taxpayer is cooperating.
The number of taxpayers arrested by HMRC for suspected tax evasion fell to a five-year low in the last tax year. The 782 arrests made in 2018/19 were 11% lower than in 2017/18.
According to law firm RPC, the reduction may be the result of HMRC taking a less aggressive approach following a number of claims brought by taxpayers for wrongful arrest. Adam Craggs, partner at RPC, said he hoped the fall in arrests was ‘a consequence of HMRC having a better understanding of their power of arrest and when it is appropriate to exercise that power’.
HMRC has around 1,500 officers with the power to arrest a person. However, there are safeguards around the use of this power, and where taxpayers under investigation for tax evasion have agreed to attend a voluntary interview under caution, HMRC should not ordinarily make an arrest, so long as the taxpayer is cooperating.
