Is HMRC targeting lawful tax avoidance and criminalising it via the back door?

Incentivising whistleblowers to target lawful tax planning practices is inherently problematic, says Martin Kenney.

Writing exclusively for GRIP, he’s responding to news that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the UK has recently announced that it intends to incentivise whistleblowers to pass on information about large-scale tax avoidance schemes.

While its intention to tackle serious tax misconduct deserves support, rewarding whistleblowers specifically for information on lawful tax avoidance is misguided, believes Martin.

Rather than incentivising informants targeting legal tax efficiency, HMRC should instead focus on criminal tax evasion.

“This is a crime that unequivocally warrants aggressive action.”

💡 Agree/disagree? Read more at GRIP.