Increased HMRC investigations

HMRC is starting to reap the benefits of increased resources being put into tax compliance


During the financial period of 2022-2023, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) increased its crackdown on non-compliant tax practices emphasising on strong compliance for businesses.

However, even with these steps taken, a disparity between anticipated and real tax income expanded indicating an acute need for rigorous enforcement actions. Through increased oversight, HMRC successfully reclaimed £11.4 billion in unpaid taxes, primarily through probes into wealthy individuals and medium-sized enterprises.

Investigations into VAT adherence saw significant growth in every industry, with big businesses contributing the most to revenue enhancement. This specific sector alone added an extra £5 billion, indicating the effectiveness of stringent compliance protocols.

Compliance is essential for companies to mitigate legal, financial, and reputational risk. It promotes equitable competition, upholds public confidence, and sustains the country’s economic equilibrium.

The escalating VAT disparity, currently standing at £8.8 billion, underscores persistent hurdles as well as businesses’ necessity to focus on compliance in response to evolving economic circumstances such as rampant inflation.

To conclude, the initiatives undertaken by HMRC underscore the significance of stringent compliance for corporations. This is not only in terms of fulfilling legal requirements but also as a fundamental element contributing to economic stability and principled business conduct

Link to Pretium Carbon Footprint Report 2022