Should tax evaders be named and shamed?

As the taxman publishes details of its most wanted tax evaders, we ask whether going public is the best way to bring them to justice and crack down on tax evasion?

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a gallery of 20 of the nation’s most wanted tax evaders.

The taxman reckons these individuals – many of whom are believed to be living outside the UK – are responsible for £765 million of tax evasion and fraud. It believes that by publishing this information, members of the public may help them track down the tax fugitives.

The pictures have been published on the HMRC’s Flickr account. The people featured include those who have already been found guilty of crimes such as money laundering and smuggling, while others have outstanding warrants for their arrest.

It’s important to note that these people have committed tax evasion, which is illegal, unlike tax avoidance, which is what celebrities like Jimmy Carr were slammed for earlier this year.

So do you think the taxman is right to go public in this way?

More on tax:

Why Britain needs a worldwide tax

How to get a tax refund

Are 'cash in hand' payments morally wrong?

Talking about your inheritance is not evil

How a Robin Hood tax would benefit you