HMRC’s approach to loan charge is not heavy-handed, says Jim Harra

HMRC is ‘working with taxpayers to agree what they owe’ in terms of the loan charge and is not taking a ‘heavy-handed’ approach said Jim Harra chief executive of HMRC in a letter to the Treasury Committee about the department’s attitude to tackling disguised remuneration (DR) tax avoidance schemes.

On how many individuals had entered DR schemes unaware of the implications Mr Harra confirmed the department does not have any estimates of how many DR scheme users entered into schemes ‘unwittingly’. He added however that the motives of those engaging in tax avoidance schemes did not affect whether tax is due.

On average settlements Mr Harra said the median sum for individuals was £19 000 and for employers it was £205 000. This covered taxes interest and penalties due.

He said about 40 000 individuals and 5 000 employers have not...