14/02/2012

UK Electricians To Get Tax Shock

Electricians around the country will start receiving letters this month from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) warning them to pay any undisclosed taxes.

Under the 'time-limited tax opportunity' electricians will be allowed to pay the tax they owe with lower penalties.

The Electricians Tax Safe Plan is aimed at anyone who installs, maintains and tests electrical systems, equipment and appliances – and covers any tax owed, for whatever reason.

This includes people who make mistakes in the amount of tax they pay – even though they have taken reasonable care; those who are careless; or those who deliberately don’t tell HMRC about something they should have paid tax on.

Marian Wilson, head of HMRC Campaigns, said: ”Our aim is to make it easy for electricians to contact us, make a full disclosure of income and face a reduced penalty.

”We are using a variety of intelligence sources to target electricians who have not declared their full income. This is the same method we used for the plumbers’ campaign, and that intelligence has led to 10 arrests and thousands of investigations, so we know it works.

”The information we are getting is from a wide range of sources, including online advertising, industry bodies, trade directories, professional ‘electrical safety’ certificates, trade suppliers and tax records. Using sophisticated software, this detailed information enables us to target those who should come forward and use the Electricians Tax Safe Plan.

The letter, going out to more than 50,000 electricians, explains that once the opportunity expires, HMRC will clamp down on those in the sector who have failed to declare earnings and pay the tax that they owe.

(DW)

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