The DPP announced that the CPS will increase their prosecution rate of tax fraud cases fivefold betweem now and 2015. The last known statistics available point to 200 prosecutions in 2010 with an 86% conviction rate.
It appears , when anaylsing the statement that the emphasis will remain on easy , small targets eg lawyers , accountants , sole traders and investors in alleged tax avoidance vehicles.
Needless to say none of the large corporates/multi nationals or high profile individuals will be touched. This new policy is a complete volte face when compared with HMRC's sabre rattling in the past. They have prosecuted the occasional high profile deterrent policy prosecution but on the whole would prefer to settle quickly with interest and penalties.
We have successfully advised and defended countless inquiries and investigations over the last 40 yearsand both Jeffrey Lewis and Siobhain Egan of LNL working with leading tax counsel, have an excellent success rate when defending such prosecutions. Contact us if you are arrested/investigated for such allegations immediately.
