HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) continues its crackdown on tax evasion with a focus on VAT.
The government body this week urged plumbers and heating engineers to pay back any taxes they owe ahead of the May 31st deadline on its current leniency period. But all businesses could face investigation in the months to come if they are suspected of avoiding paying VAT receipts.
Plumbers have already faced a crackdown in this area, along with offshore investors and medical professionals.
Mike Wells, director of risk and intelligence at HMRC, says: “Our aim is to get as much input as possible into our future campaigns so that the views and experience of people and organisations outside the department play a fuller part.”
As such, its campaign – which aims to tackle companies who have not registered for VAT, despite trading above the VAT threshold – is not due to launch until late summer.