Over £30m will be recovered from tax dodgers as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) launches new taskforces around the country.

The taskforces will target traders who do not pay the right amount of tax in:

• Scottish pubs and nightclubs
• Hair and beauty businesses in Northern Ireland
• The motor trade in South Wales, South West, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East
• Restaurants in South Wales and South West

HMRC have set up a direct dial phone number to deal with any issues regarding the recently published landfill tax Revenue & Customs briefs. If you have a query please call 0161 827 0233 during normal office hours (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday) or alternatively please leave a message for a next working day call-back.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is warning taxpayers not to fall victim to ‘phishing’ emails sent out by fraudsters in the run-up to the self-assessment deadline of 31 January.

The email tells the recipient they are due a tax rebate, and provides a link to a clone of HMRC’s website where the recipient is asked to give their credit card or bank details. Fraudsters then try to take money from the account using the details provided. Victims risk having their bank accounts emptied and their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will introduce tougher procedures for civil fraud investigations later this month, the department announced today.

As part of the Government’s commitment to tackle fraud, HMRC’s new Contractual Disclosure Facility (CDF) will be launched on 31 January 2012, and follows consultation with interested parties in the autumn.