22% rise in tax debt as crunch bites
The number of taxpayers avoiding or delaying paying tax has increased as doubts are raised over HMRCs ability to cope with the issue
The National Audit Office has issued a damming report which estimates as many
as 1.5 million working adults had a personal or business tax debt in April this
year – a rise of 22% over the past 12 months.
The report also details concerns that HMRevenue and Customs does not have the
resources to deal with the increase, having cut staff handling debt by 14% to
6200 since 2006, according to
guardian.co.uk
Edward Leigh, chairman of the Commons public accounts committee, said HMRC
has failed to adopt necessary practices in managing debts owed.
‘If the department had introduced such measures, then it would be better
placed to tackle what will surely become a more pressing problem in the present
economic climate.
‘It is difficult not to ask some fundamental questions. How will HMRC manage
what is very likely to be a growing volume of tax debt? How will the department
maintain the flow of money to the exchequer? And how will HMRC identify and
support those poor and vulnerable people owing tax who need time to pay?’ he
said.
Further Reading:
NAO
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HMRC
plans most far-reaching clampdown yet
