Prosecutions against enablers of tax evasion in the UK have plummeted by over 75% in the past five years, with fewer than five cases reported for 2023-2024. This significant decline raises pressing questions about HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and its crackdown strategy intended to recover owed taxes. Labour peer Prem Sikka highlighted issues with data accuracy and transparency, claiming that HMRC has failed to clarify misleading prosecution figures from previous years. Critics argue that the lack of action against tax evasion enablers indicates a broader failure by HMRC to enforce accountability among those facilitating tax avoidance.
The targeting of enablers, anyone who knowingly helps a client evade tax, is central to HMRC's strategy, but prosecutions have dropped significantly.
Labour peer Prem Sikka criticized HMRC's lack of transparency, stating it undermines parliamentary inquiries and reflects a serious problem with accountability.
Claire Aston from TaxWatch noted that the steep decline in prosecutions suggests HMRC is not effectively addressing tax evasion facilitation among enablers.
HMRC's data reliability is questioned, with figures previously reported being incongruent, calling into question the effectiveness of their enforcement strategies.
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