HMRC Investigation Strategy

The UK Government is investing £millions in HMRC’s investigation activity and has set significant targets for additional tax revenue to be collected. To assist in the process, the UK Government strengthened HMRC’s powers to inspect and request information and documents about your personal financial affairs and business interests.
More worryingly for some, HMRC have said it intends to increase the number of criminal prosecutions as there is a view the behaviour of some taxpayers will only change when someone they know is sent to jail for not paying the right amount of tax.

For some, these changes will be of no concern, for they are paying the right amount of tax and they have nothing to hide if a tax inspector reviews all their personal and business records and asks lots of questions. For most individuals however, these changes in HMRC’s investigation strategy and approach will represent an unwelcome intrusion into their life.

For some taxpayers, these changes will be of great concern, not only to their financial wealth but to their reputation and potentially their liberty. Those individuals with no legitimate basis for not paying tax on some or all of their income and capital gains should expect their position to be revealed and are usually best advised to make a full and voluntary disclosure to HMRC.

At Ritchie Phillips, our in depth experience in tax disputes and investigations will allow you the best opportunity to defend your position and face up to a tax investigation by HMRC. With our up to date knowledge of HMRC’s investigation strategy we are able to secure for you the best available terms of settling a tax investigation into your financial affairs.