Rotherham's self-employed facing tax blitz

THOUSANDS of people in Rotherham could be investigated as part of a crackdown on tax fraud.

About 2,500 self-employed businessmen and women in the town are among those who could be targeted by HM Revenue & Customs as part of a new campaign to clamp down on fraudulent claims.

Any of the 13,000 people in South Yorkshire currently claiming tax credits for the self-employed could be investigated.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

HMRC teams have been examining tax credit awards paid to the self-employed and are writing to around 12,000 across the UK people whose claims may not be genuine or accurate.

A spokesman said: “Those suspected will be asked to supply evidence to support their claims.

“Overpayment may be due to a failure to notify the HMRC of changes in income.

“Anyone in that position will have to pay back what they owe.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In the case of deliberate fraud a claimant could face prosecution and imprisonment.”

HMRC is now using credit reference agencies and data-matching to spot patterns of fraud.

Exchequer secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said: “HMRC is determined to take a tough approach to targeting possible fraud among tax credit claimants.

“These losses are unaffordable and unacceptable.”

There are roughly 2,500 self-employed tax credit claimants in Rotherham, 2,700 in Barnsley, 2,600 in Doncaster and 5,200 in Sheffield.

 

 

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice