New rules will apply from 1 April 2010
The Treasury has announced that 1 April 2010 will be the start date for the new “naming and shaming” rules for tax defaulters.
The rules in question are on section 94, Finance Act 2009. This section authorises HMRC to publish the details of taxpayers where it is established that they have committed certain serious tax offences.
The April 2010 start date means that section 94 will apply for tax periods starting on or after 1 April 2010 and for offences committed on or after that date. It is not expected that any names will be published before the first half of 2011.
Names will be published on HMRC’s website. Taxpayers who may be named are those who have deliberately evaded tax of more than £25,000 in total. HMRC says that if taxpayers make a full disclosure of any tax wrongs without delay they can avoid having their name and details published.