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18/02/2011
Self-Employed Tax Credit Cheats Targeted
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched a campaign to target and crack down on suspected fraudulent tax credit claims from the self-employed.
Letters have started to land on the doorsteps of 12,000 self-employed people who are claiming tax credits. HMRC teams have been examining tax credit awards being paid to the self-employed and are writing to any whose claims may not be genuine or accurate. They are asked to contact the department and supply evidence to support their claims.
Those who fail to tell HMRC of changes in income could face a penalty and, in the case of deliberate fraud, criminal prosecution and imprisonment.
As part of a wider government crackdown, HMRC and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have published a strategy designed to tackle error and fraud in benefits and credits.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said: “HMRC is determined to take a tough approach to targeting possible fraud among tax credit claimants. Last year the Government launched radical proposals to reduce the billions lost to tax credit error and fraud every year. These losses are unaffordable and unacceptable.”
HMRC will now use credit reference agencies and data-matching to spot patterns of fraud. The department is also employing additional investigators and are examining each claim in high-fraud areas.
(BMcN/GK)
Letters have started to land on the doorsteps of 12,000 self-employed people who are claiming tax credits. HMRC teams have been examining tax credit awards being paid to the self-employed and are writing to any whose claims may not be genuine or accurate. They are asked to contact the department and supply evidence to support their claims.
Those who fail to tell HMRC of changes in income could face a penalty and, in the case of deliberate fraud, criminal prosecution and imprisonment.
As part of a wider government crackdown, HMRC and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have published a strategy designed to tackle error and fraud in benefits and credits.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said: “HMRC is determined to take a tough approach to targeting possible fraud among tax credit claimants. Last year the Government launched radical proposals to reduce the billions lost to tax credit error and fraud every year. These losses are unaffordable and unacceptable.”
HMRC will now use credit reference agencies and data-matching to spot patterns of fraud. The department is also employing additional investigators and are examining each claim in high-fraud areas.
(BMcN/GK)
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Tax Credit Fraud Target Off By £5bn
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will miss its 2015 target of cutting tax credit fraud by £5bn, a report by the Public Accounts Committee has said. HMRC was challenged by the government in 2010 to cut tax credit fraud by £8bn by 2015, but it is now predicted to only reduce it by £3bn.
Tax Credit Fraud Target Off By £5bn
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will miss its 2015 target of cutting tax credit fraud by £5bn, a report by the Public Accounts Committee has said. HMRC was challenged by the government in 2010 to cut tax credit fraud by £8bn by 2015, but it is now predicted to only reduce it by £3bn.
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More Fall Into Debt Following HMRC Overpayments
The number of issues reported to Citizens Advice of people falling into debt as a result of repaying overpaid tax credits increased by 14 per cent in the 2013/14 tax year. Tax Credit debts arise when HMRC over-estimates a person’s entitlement to financial support and ends up having to recoup overpayments.
More Fall Into Debt Following HMRC Overpayments
The number of issues reported to Citizens Advice of people falling into debt as a result of repaying overpaid tax credits increased by 14 per cent in the 2013/14 tax year. Tax Credit debts arise when HMRC over-estimates a person’s entitlement to financial support and ends up having to recoup overpayments.
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Inland Revenue highlights tax credits uptake
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Inland Revenue highlights tax credits uptake
Of the six million families expected to benefit from the Child and Working Tax Credits, more than 5.7 million families are doing so already, according to the Inland Revenue (IR). Over 250,000 more tax credit awards were put in place over the last four weeks alone, the IR said.
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