UK tax evasion falls

The number of cases of serious tax evasion identified by HMRC has fallen, new analysis has suggested.Statistics analysed by Pinsent Masons show that in 2011/12 there were 3,456 suspected serious tax evasion cases identified by local HMRC offices, a decrease of 23 per cent on the 4,506 cases identified in 2010-11. According to Pinsent Masons, this is the lowest number of tax evasion cases identified by HMRC in the last five years and this appears to go against the growing perception that tax evasion is getting worse.Separate Pinsent Masons research shows that HMRC has doubled its efforts to fight tax evasion since 2010/11, undertaking 499 raids in 2011/12, compared to 196 in 2010/11.Phil Berwick, director at Pinsent Masons, said, “Public concern over tax evasion and tax avoidance has reached fever pitch, but these figures show the level of outcry and language used by some is not entirely justified."He added, "A significant fall in the number of cases identified by HMRC’s local offices doesn’t really gel with the idea that there is a substantial and growing threat to public spending because of tax evasion.”

http://www.50percenttax.co.uk/index/2012/9/21/uk-tax-evasion-falls.html