How many MPs are currently subject to enquiries into their tax returns, and how many enquiries have been settled in the last three financial years?
Response:
As at the 14 May 2009, the number of MPs subject to enquiries into their tax returns was 14.
The numbers of enquiries settled in the last three financial years are:
Undertaking an enquiry is about reconciling HMRC’s risk assessment with the information that the taxpayer holds – it does not imply that the tax return is incorrect. We routinely check a random sample of all tax returns received, as part of our tax compliance procedures. In each case, we examine the information on the return and that supplied during the enquiry. Enquiries enable us to help customers to correct their misunderstandings and to improve our identification of risk as well as to find and tackle deliberate non-compliance. Our enquiries also act as a deterrent to the non-compliant and an assurance to the compliant majority that we are ensuring that the burden of taxation falls fairly on all those who should be paying.
