HMRC continues to focus on selected audiences with targeted tax campaigns during this spring period.
The February campaign focuses on electricians. It is the second trades’ campaign and unsurprisingly is called the Electrician’s Tax Safe Plan (ETSP).
Its main target group is electricians and electrical fitters and as with all campaigns its aim is to improve tax compliance and provide an opportunity for an individual to voluntarily disclose any taxes that are due.
As with the Plumber’s Tax Safe Plan, HMRC is likely to use information pulled together from different sources, to target and investigate those who have chosen not to come forward.
The second campaign focuses on those who are using e-marketplaces to buy and sell goods as a trade or business and who fail to pay the tax owed.
When considering if an individual is operating a business you may wish to consider the badges of trade information available on ACCA’s website.
Finally, the campaign targeting tutors and coaches is drawing to a close. They will need to provide full disclosure, with payment, by 31 March 2012. Disclosure and payment should be made for all taxes, duties, interest and penalties and disclosed by completing the forms, which should be printed and sent to:
HM Revenue & Customs
Tax Catch Up Plan Team
Holland House
20 Oxford Road
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH8 8DZ.
Finally, disclosure can also be made using the Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility (LDF). LDF is available until 31 March 2015. This allows people with unpaid tax linked to investments or assets in Liechtenstein to settle their tax liability under this special arrangement.
HMRC have just announced that it next round of campaigns will focus on the following groups:
The new campaigns will focus on:
This will contribute to wider HMRC activity tackling failure to complete tax returns. It will initially focus on those who fail to complete tax returns and who are liable to pay tax at the highest rates, for example, higher rate employed taxpayers who also have investment income.
This will build on campaigns aimed at plumbers and electricians, and will include several 100,000 tradespeople in construction and building work such as roofing, window fitting, bricklaying, carpentry and joinery.
This will target customers who ought to be paying tax on income they earn from buying and selling goods direct to others, or from the commission on these sales.
HMRC Task Forces
HMRC have announced that it will be setting up 30 new task forces aimed at specific business sectors in specific geographical areas, where there is evidence of tax evasion. It has just been announced that Scottish landlords are to be targeted next.