A taskforce tackling tax dodgers in the holiday industry across the South West England – including Somerset – has been launched this week by HM Revenue and Customs.
The taskforce aims to recover £2.5million and will be launching unannounced visits to tourist businesses across the region.
HMRC’s Jennie Granger, Director General Enforcement and Compliance, said: “Our message is clear – if you seek to evade tax or defraud the tax system, HMRC can and will track you down. You will face not only a heavy fine, but possibly a criminal prosecution as well.”
The taskforce will tackle tax evasion in the holiday industry in Somerset, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Devon and South Wales.
Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of activity in specific high-risk trade sectors and locations in the UK. The teams visit traders to examine their records and carry out other investigations.
David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: “We are determined to support hardworking people who want to get on in this industry and every other. However, the people being targeted by this taskforce have no intention of playing by the rules. The Government has made it clear that we will not tolerate tax evasion and we have provided HMRC with the resources to crack down on those who break the rules.”
