HMRC taskforce targets wealthy NI tax cheats
A new HMRC taskforce has been launched to go after wealthy tax cheats in Northern Ireland.
Investigators from HM Revenue and Customs will use Land Registry and Merchant Acquirer data to identify those with “badges of wealth” such as large houses, aeroplanes, boats and undeclared offshore bank accounts, which are not in keeping with the information they report to HMRC.
The programme is expected to recover nearly £18m.
HMRC said it will bring together specialist officers from across the organisation to identify wealth indicators and cross reference them with the data it holds about their owners.
Lead investigator Ian McCafferty explained: “Our intelligence shows that people being targeted by this taskforces have no intention of playing by the rules and could end up facing a heavy fine or even a criminal conviction.
“Those who pay the tax they are supposed to have nothing to worry about.
“Using the information we hold, we can target people whose lifestyle does not reflect the tax they are paying.
“It’s not fair that a small minority are living the millionaire lifestyle as a result of them not paying their tax, while the rest of us live within our means and pay our fair share.”
