TAG Tax

Contact: Burgis and Bullock (Warwickshire, England)

The lengths that HMRC will go to in its quest to catch-out tax evaders seemingly knows no bounds with the disclosure that Inland Revenue Inspectors are embracing technology with the phrase "desktop review" taking on a new meaning.

It has been revealed that HMRC officers are increasingly using Google's Street View application as a monitoring tool to assess suspected tax evaders. It appears that the officers are using photographic evidence from Google Street View as an alternative to actually visiting peoples' homes.

With the system giving a road-side view of properties the inspectors have a quick and easy way of assessing is someone's declared income matches with their lifestyle. For example, extensive renovations/extensions, expensive cars, caravans or boats could all be indicators that someone's income is more than they are declaring.

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