Telegraph
Tax hitmen to track Brits’ spending
Credit reference agencies will cross-check details of the income people declare on their tax returns against their spending patterns to identify “high” and “medium” risks of both illegal and legal tax avoidance.
People identified to HM Revenue and Customs will then be subject to more detailed investigations. About two million people are expected to be scrutinised under the programme, which may lead to privacy concerns.
HMRC will today unveil the “successful” results of a pilot programme involving about 20,000 people which will now be extended nationally.
Many of those who are expected to be identified are likely to be self-employed workers who have under-declared their income to the authorities.
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Oh heck not to worry soon enough we will all be tracked…we can thank the Patriot Act for that nonsense. NSA is watching…smile.
PierreLegrand on December 3, 2012 at 10:42 AM
If you think there isn’t a pilot for a similar program here in the States, you haven’t been paying attention.
Washington Nearsider on December 3, 2012 at 10:44 AM
Coming to America is no longer a positive dream. It is a threat and warning.
astonerii on December 3, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Use cash as much as possible.
rbj on December 3, 2012 at 10:59 AM
And barter
tommyboy on December 3, 2012 at 11:06 AM
The Patriot Act and the NDAA basically render the constitution a historical footnote of no particular relevance.
CorporatePiggy on December 3, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Barter is coming. Barter your skills & hard assets.
Actually, many people already are doing this.
Even cash transactions will be tracked.
katy on December 3, 2012 at 11:11 AM
My name is Bond, James ‘HMRC’ Bond. A high-medium martini, please, shaken, not stirred.
tommy71 on December 3, 2012 at 11:27 AM
The IRS already does this. How is any of this news?
Again, by its very nature, a mandatory income tax regime is immoral for all kinds of reasons, including privacy violations.
jr.ewing.78 on December 3, 2012 at 11:36 AM
The IRS already has this. I forget the name of the program, but it is new and aimed at small businesses & 1099s. It was referred to as a “survey” for accuracy, but it’s not one of the 4 regular audit types. I look for it to be expanded and automatically tag every single 1099 & small businesses.
AH_C on December 6, 2012 at 8:59 AM