Sch 23 bulk data-gathering powers: policing the gig economy

The evolution of the so-called ‘gig’ and ‘sharing’ economies is changing the traditional model of the economy but also risks undermining the UK tax system. Workers in this new economy range from freelancers to online traders. They have varied structures for engagement but large numbers are self-employed and many are part time. The 2017 NatCen report for HMRC The hidden economy in Great Britain estimated that 11% of the working age population in Britain participate in the sharing economy. The traditional model of employers collecting tax through PAYE is ineffective for such workers; instead HMRC must increasingly rely on self-assessment. However reports such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ Briefing note BN218 suggest that as much as £8bn in...