What happens in an HMRC criminal investigation?

There have been recent reports in the media about the number of HMRC’s criminal investigations declining in number. However HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service is still very much active and is strategically investigating cases that are of higher value and complexity rather than focusing on the smaller less complex cases.

By way of example the response to a Freedom of Information Act request shows that HMRC raids are up more than 40% in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22. In addition the number of decisions to prosecute has jumped from 336 in 2021-22 to 431 in 2022-23. In addition last year HMRC reached one of its highest settlements ever when former F1 mogul Bernie Ecclestone paid £650m after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation in respect of his failure to declare to HMRC the existence of overseas assets worth over £400m. ...