{"primaryDescription":"

Tackling tax dodging on the UK’s high streets to be investigated by MPs

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The Treasury Committee will examine tax evasion, business rates avoidance, and dodging tobacco and vapes duty on the UK’s high streets.

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The National Crime Agency estimates that £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year. At least £1 billion of that is thought to be laundered through high street stores connected to the sale of fake goods, tax evasion, illegal working and illicit tobacco and vape sales.

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MPs are likely to explore the challenges HMRC faces in tackling these issues, as well as the likely impact of around £1.7 billion of funding for HMRC to close the tax gap.

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The 2024-25 tax gap figures released last week show an increase of £6.4 billion, from 6.0% to 6.4% of total liabilities. This is despite the Government’s repeated efforts to close the tax gap. It is estimated that tax evasion by small businesses increased from £3.1 billion in 2019-20 to £4.4 billion in\u202F2022-23. MPs could explore the potential driving factors of this increase, as well as other forms of tax non-compliance. 

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The Committee may choose to examine the tax losses resulting from the practice of ‘phoenixing’, which HMRC estimated accounted for around £1.6 billion in tax losses in 2022-23. MPs are also likely to consider the impact of illicit sales of tobacco and vapes, and long-term shop vacancies on the UK’s high streets.

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