With just days to go before taxpayers across the land are due to file their online tax returns, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, this week announced his desire to “ramp up” the number of prosecutions for alleged tax evasion.
In 2010 there were just 200 convictions for tax evasion despite an estimated cost of such fraud of £14bn per year. This figure increased to 550 convictions in 2011. Mr Starmer’s aim is to bring at least 1,500 prosecutions for tax evasion in the year 2015. This prosecutorial effort will be backed by an additional £1bn to be allocated to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
