According to Accountancy Web, the latest HMIC report concludes, despite the recent barrage of publicity about five times increases of tax fraud prosecutions, that HMRC are missing their prosecution targets.
Figures show:
| Year | Target Number | Actual Number |
| 2011/12 | 365 | 302 |
| 2012/13 | 565 | 349 |
| 2013/14 | 76 | |
| 2014/15 | 1,165 |
A further analysis of figures between April and September 2012 reveals only 202 prosecutions. Those prosecutions can be further analysed as follows:
| Prosecution Type | Number of Individuals Prosecuted |
| Alcohol | 12 |
| Direct Tax | 24 |
| Money Laundering | 3 |
| Oil | 2 |
| Other | 3 |
| Stamp Duty | 1 |
| Tobacco | 76 |
| VAT | 65 |
| VAT Securities | 16 |
| Total | 200 |
HMRC have been given additional funding by the Treasury to increase the number of prosecutions. They have 200 volume crime investigators and 40 intelligence officers working in this area alone.
The reason why the number of prosecutions is so low is unclear, though the HMIC believe that that HRMC and the CPS are focusing too much on fulfilling their disclosure obligations! Disclosure is a fundamental part of the prosecution process, so it’s surprising that HMIC would suggest this.
If you are facing an investigation by HMRC contact Jeffrey Lewis or Siobhain Egan who have many years of success when defending these investigations/proceedings.
