The tax gap is getting worse – and by more than we thought

The tax gap is getting worse – and by more than we thought

by | Jun 23, 2026

You might be forgiven for thinking that it was a good news story. Today HMRC released its ‘tax gap’ figures — its detailed estimates of the amount of due taxes that have gone unpaid thanks to error, carelessness, avoidance, evasion and fraud. The tax gap is a...
Private justice, public loss

Private justice, public loss

by | Apr 30, 2026

Full report Executive summary A UK company which forms part of one of the world’s largest oil trading multinationals, and which handles much of its oil trading business, has since 2009 been paying four-fifths of its operating profits to a related company in the Swiss...
Naming and shaming isn’t working

Naming and shaming isn’t working

by | Apr 8, 2026

There are different reasons for not paying due tax: from genuine mistakes to criminal fraud. At the more serious end of the scale is evading tax liabilities on purpose. Deliberately providing HMRC with inaccurate or false information. Deliberately failing to tell them...
Are small businesses tax dodgers or tax victims?

Are small businesses tax dodgers or tax victims?

by | Feb 12, 2026

Parliament’s Business and Trade Committee argues in its latest report, released yesterday, that tax compliance is crushing small businesses. Aside from concerns about tax levels and thresholds (about which there is much more to say, especially regarding VAT and...
MPs ask tough questions about closing the tax gap

MPs ask tough questions about closing the tax gap

by | Jan 14, 2026

  Yesterday (13 January) Parliament’s Treasury Select Committee grilled HMRC’s chief and senior staff about their efforts to tackle tax avoidance, evasion and debt.  MPs referenced TaxWatch research and investigations in questions about corporate tax reliefs,...