Crackdown on VAT cheats needed, says MP
28 August 2012
Edward Leigh MP, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, is demanding tougher civil penalties for tax evasion to help tackle VAT losses, and has called for Customs to step up its efforts.
The latest report from the Committee – Tackling VAT Fraud – found that VAT totalling more than £11 billion was lost to fraudsters and cheats as well as those making genuine errors in 2002-2003.
Leigh said: "VAT is being pocketed rather than being collected for the public purse [and] traders paying over the correct VAT, and the taxpayer in general, will...