The number of criminal investigations completed by HMRC has increased 11% to 386 from 347 in the year to September 2024, says law firm Pinsent Masons.
The total length of prison sentences handed down for tax evasion and tax fraud have also increased – to 525 years in the past year, up from 503 years.
HMRC is expected to step up its investigations into evasion even further as it comes under pressure to increase the tax take from investigations. The government announced plans in the last Budget to collect an extra £6.5bn from tax investigations over the next five years.
Steven Porter said: ‘HMRC is sending a clear message to tax evaders that they won’t be let off lightly – longer sentences send a strong message that HMRC will use the full force of the law.’
