The taskforce covers East Anglia, London, Leeds, York, Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Durham and Sunderland is expected to recover more than £17m from tax dodgers.
The property rental team is one of a number of HMRC specialist taskforces undertaking intensive bursts of activity in specific high-risk trade sectors and locations in the UK.
HMRC has launched 12 taskforces in 2011/12 and 30 more will follow in 2012/13.
The teams will visit traders to examine their records and carry out other investigations.
David Gauke, exchequer secretary, says HMRC is on target to collect more than £50m as a result of the taskforces launched in 2011/12.
He says: “We have made it clear that we will not tolerate tax evasion – everyone needs to pay the taxes they owe in full. We are determined to crack down on the minority who choose to break the rules.”
Mike Eland, director-general of enforcement and compliance at HMRC, says deliberately evading tax can land you a heavy fine or even a criminal prosecution as well.
He says: “This is not an empty threat – HMRC can and will track you down if you choose to break the rules.”
The taskforces are being launched as a result of the government’s £917m spending review investment to tackle tax evasion, avoidance and fraud from 2011/12
It aims to raise an additional £7bn each year by 2014/15.
It all started when the government decided to pay tenants housing benefit direct and not the agent or landlords,now landlords collect rents at the door and pay the TAX on that or NOT!
Wouldn’t it make sense for the politicians and the “quangocracy” to get their own house in order first ? Surely evaders can just follow the politicians example, and simply pay back some of what they got away with ? Why not crack down on the “I am a Ltd Co. and pay myself in dividends” loophole ? Tax is voluntary for the establishment, but they expect to enforce it on the proles.
Excellent news. All that extra cash for the government coffers so that they can give it away to all the scroungers over here or as overseas aid, when in fact it could be put to much better use.