Britain’s missing billions: Tax task force launches crackdown as fraud tops £4bn

“The Inland Revenue has been stepping up its battle to beat tax-dodgers,” reported The Sunday Post.

“Earlier this year 400 officials and inspectors were drafted into a task force to crack down on the black economy. Their first major investigation is well under way. Thousands are unaware the task force is compiling evidence against them.

“Sir Laurence Airey, chairman of the board of

the Inland Revenue, puts the figure on lost tax as high as £4,000 million.

“The task force has been combing through local papers looking at adverts from jobbing builders, painters, plumbers, car mechanics.

“They’ve been inspecting the books of factories and firms using self-shops, employed contractors or buying goods or services from small private firms.

“They’re making closer investigations of

firms and individuals suspected of dodging tax. They’re checking on the percentage profit declared by businesses compared to that similar businesses in the same trade and area.

“They’re checking to see how VAT returns relate to sales. They’re even looking at the lifestyles of people suspected of tax dodging – and asking awkward questions.”

The UK estimates that it loses £6.3 billion to tax fraud every year.