Fluent approach

KEY POINTS

• Expansion of the affluent unit.
• Intelligence-based approach.
• Identifying taxpayers likely to use avoidance schemes.
• Use of third-party data.

In the 2012 autumn statement the government announced an additional investment of £5m in HMRC’s affluent compliance teams which are dedicated to making sure the rich pay their fair share of tax.

The extra money is being used to recruit 100 more inspectors and specialists to cover the tax affairs of around 300 000 people with an annual income of more than £150 000 and wealth of between £2.5m and £20m.

The extra staff will also help HMRC meet their expanded remit which now covers populations with assets in the range of £1m to £2.5m increasing the potential taxpayer base by a further 200 000 people.

Sometimes referred to...