HMRC

HM Revenue & Customs has warned it will impose a penalty on directors who deliberately flout the rules of the government's coronavirus furlough scheme. 

HMRC said it will now be ‘assessing’ these cases in line with its usual procedures.

Scammers are targeting those signing up to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme by falsely claiming their grant has been approved.

https://www.lovemoney.com/news/96029/hmrc-grant-scam-fake-tax-mails-claims-self-employment-income-support?mc_cid=866722e370&mc_eid=d48711f7ed&source=1000693

The COVID-19 crisis presents fraudsters with a ripe opportunity to defraud businesses at a time when finances are tight, attention and resources are focused elsewhere, key staff may be absent and financial controls are under pressure. One of the simplest and most devastatingly effective of these frauds is a push payment fraud.

https://insightplus.bakermckenzie.com/bm/resilience-recovery-renewal/united-kingdom-warning-push-payment-fraud-how-to-spot-it-how-to-stop-it-covid-19?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

UK employers who are furloughing staff as a result of the coronavirus pandemic could face a criminal investigation from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if they are dishonestly claiming under the coronavirus job retention scheme whilst simultaneously requiring employees to work.

https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/analysis/criminal-investigation-risk-furloughing-staff

HM Revenue & Customs is not renowned for its generosity. However, in circumstances where the department comes across suspected tax evasion, it can offer immunity from prosecution for tax offences in exchange for a full and accurate disclosure of any tax irregularities.

https://www.ftadviser.com/your-industry/2020/05/13/beware-hmrc-bearing-gifts/

A tax expert has urged the government to clamp down on tax crime to help pay for the recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

A man accused of being part of a VAT scam is negotiating his surrender to the UK authorities, Swindon Crown Court heard.

Scammers are offering financial support as a result of coronavirus. If you receive an email, text or call claiming to be from HMRC asking you to click on a link or give information such as your name, credit card or bank details, it's a scam.

https://data.actionfraud.police.uk/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/HMRC_scam.jpg

It is an unfortunate fact of life that most businesses do not become aware of the risks they are exposed to until it is too late. That is certainly the case when it comes to the risk of getting entangled in VAT fraud. Many businesses are entirely unaware of just how easy it is for VAT fraudsters to compromise the activities of legitimate trading – or just how much they could lose if that happens.

https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/financial-advisory/articles/the-vat-fraud-trap-its-costing-billions-and-its-time-to-act.html?id=uk%3A2sm%3A3tw%3A4dcom_share%3A5awa%3A6dcom%3Acorporate_finance