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
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Comments
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Change the system. Nobody evades paying property tax. Why are people so against taxes that cannot be evaded? We ask for trouble and are then surprised when it comes-.
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@ electricblue, yes they must be named and shamed and yes the law needs to addressed. PayPal eBay are based abroad, but why are 90% of the banks in London not paying full rates of tax. London has more tax dodgers than most and most of these work in the city. Do not forget the many illegals evading tax but when you compare to what the banks getaway with it is tiny in comparison but easy to blame illegals rather then the bank rolling crooks; the banks. It's all about who and what you know. These firms employ a herd of lawyers and accountants who bend over backwards to ensure savings are made by not paying tax.
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@felicity two wrongs do not make a right. Most low earners that evade/avoid tax do so at the rates of 10 - 20% on earnings of 25k or less. Thousands of small tax dodgers still pay 10 -20% in tax at least. Their illegally earned money circulates in the local economy, yet The rich top end tax dodgers pay 1% or less in tax and ship the money out of the country. Both are still wrong but given the choice I would prosecute the top end avoiders.
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11 January 2013