Call to shop tax cheats online

HM Revenue & Customs has launched a new internet service allowing people to report any individual or businesses that they suspect of evading tax.



Unveiling the online facility, the department said its existing efforts to catch taxpayers who try to cheat the system have already recovered £42million since 2005.



It added that clamping down on tax evaders was a "key priority," partly evidenced by HMRC now being able to charge penalties of up to 100% for deliberate evasion.



Anyone with concerns a person or firm is acting unlawfully with tax was encouraged to use the service, which HMRC said will help it identify high-risk cases early on.



"By doing so you will be helping us to catch people who are unfairly competing with honest businesses and denying funding for essential public services.



"Being able to report potential tax evasion online is just the latest step in demonstrating that for tax cheats the game is up," said Stephen Timms, financial secretary to the Treasury.



Timms said HMRC would treat the allegations made on the site seriously, and that all the monies recovered would be put back into the system to fund vital public services.