HMRC data demands for clients suspected of tax crimes hits record high

These confidential data requests from the taxman jumped a fifth (19%) to 1,507 in the 12 months to 31 March 2017 - up from 1,276 in 2015/16. Such requests, RPC explained, involves HMRC's Criminal Investigation Directorate seeking a ‘production order' forcing professional services firms to disclose confidential information relating to clients who are suspected of tax fraud. In 2015, HMRC was given an additional £800m in funding to help it meet a target of tripling the number of criminal investigations into tax crimes by 2020. As a result, RPC has warned, firms are facing a greater t...