Reports in the Fleet Street press suggest that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is to launch a ‘hit squad’ to pinpoint both errant solicitors and barristers who are primarily practising in London.

High risk sector

According to a report in the Financial Times, the move signals a ramping up of efforts by the authorities to stamp on high level white collar tax evasion. The newspaper describes the legal profession in the UK capital as being ‘one of five high risk sectors’ to fall under the tax man’s enhanced gaze.
A report in The Times newspaper says the task force will be staffed by specialist inspectors. The report quotes a senior exchequer official as saying the UK government ‘will not tolerate tax evasion and we are determined to crack down on the minority who choose to break the rules’.

Hard evidence

While the FT quotes the Charted Institute of Taxation as speculating that the authorities will already have hard evidence of lawyers evading tax.
It may not be much comfort to London’s high-flying lawyers, but they are not the only group currently being targeted. The Times says hair and beauty salons in the north-east of the country, restaurants in the south-east, motorcar mechanics in Scotland and grocery and retail outlets in the west and in Wales are also falling under scrutiny.