The state puts a considerable amount of resources into tackling tax fraud, but it can still get it wrong. So just because they start an investigation it is not a foregone conclusion that fraud has actually taken place. Through diligent hard work your defence team will forensically check the situation and early preparation and expert sustained pressure on the prosecution. A rouge trader may turn out simply to be a business person trying their best in difficult circumstances, a deeper investigation of accounts may reveal a different situation to the one the HMRC has decided upon.
However clients should be warned!
Beware ‘HMRC’ phone scams – surge in calls telling victims they owe taxman £1,000s
Fraudsters are increasingly carrying out sophisticated phone scams which can involve them threatening victims with immediate arrest if they don’t pay £1,000s on the spot – and bogus calls in some cases appear to come from HMRC’s telephone number. If you receive an urgent demand to pay tax over the phone, beware.
HM Revenue & Customs revealed earlier this month that it received more than 60,000 reports of scam calls in the six months leading up to January 2019 – an increase of 360% compared to the previous six months.
HMRC has issued the following guidance to people to stop them getting caught out:
1. Recognise the signs. Genuine organisations like banks and HMRC will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, password or bank details.
2. Stay safe. Don’t give out private information, reply to text messages, download attachments or click on links in emails you weren’t expecting.
3. Take action. Forward suspicious emails and details of calls claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and texts to 60599, or contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 if you suffer financial loss.
The HMRC will only ever call you asking for payment on a debt that you are already aware of, either having received a letter about it, or after you’ve told then that you owe some tax, for example through a self-assessment return.