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Written question asked by Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 18 January 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 January 2023 (named day). It was answered by Victoria Atkins (Conservative) on Monday, 23 January 2023 on behalf of the Treasury.

Taxpayer Protection Taskforce

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to replace the Taxpayer Protection Taskforce with an alternative scheme after September 2023.

Answer

At Budget 2021, the Government announced an investment of over £100 million in the Taxpayer Protection Taskforce, to be in place for two years to April 2023, to combat fraud in the COVID-19 financial support schemes administered by HMRC (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Self Employed Income Support Scheme and Eat Out To Help Out).

As planned between April and September 2023, compliance staff currently deployed on the taskforce will move back to business-as-usual tax compliance activity. Ongoing investigations into overclaimed grants that haven't been concluded will be worked to completion. HMRC will consider the risk of overclaims of COVID-19 grants alongside other tax compliance risks when prioritising cases for a compliance check. This is the most efficient way to ensure we protect and recover taxpayers’ money, as it allows HMRC to deal with all aspects of a customer’s potential non-compliance in a single check.

HMRC remains committed to tackling error and fraud in the COVID-19 support schemes where this is the most cost-effective use of resources, and we are not writing off any overpayments of grants. We will continue to take action against those who have deliberately sought to abuse the COVID-19 financial support schemes, while recognising there will be people who have made honest mistakes.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
126755
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Taxpayer Protection Taskforce
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk