Taxman’s haul from anti-avoidance ‘on track’

The taxman’s attempt to collect £7billion a year by 2015 from people who duck their obligations is “on track”, the chief secretary to the Treasury announced.

Addressing the Liberal Democrat party conference, Danny Alexander said that already £2billion had been raised this year alone from tax evaders and tax avoiders.

Later this year, an additional 2,250 staff at HM Revenue & Customs will move into new anti-avoidance and anti-evasion jobs, helping “to make sure tax owed is tax paid.”

“Last year, I announced a package of investment to strengthen our fight against tax evasion, as well as tax avoidance,” Mr Alexander added. “Already this package is bearing fruit.”

Elsewhere at HMRC, the Lib Dem MP said a new ‘affluent team’ will be in place within the month, assembled to examine the 350,000 wealthiest taxpayers who pay, or should pay, the 50p tax rate.

“At a time of austerity…if we are all in this together, those with the broadest shoulders must bear the greatest burden,” Mr Alexander said. “Fair taxation of the wealthiest is key to our deficit reduction plan.”