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Tax Avoidance

Asked by Sammy WilsonDemocratic Unionist PartyTreasuryTabled Answered 28 May 2025UIN 53020

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of making the (a) marketing and (b) operation of disguised remuneration schemes a criminal offence.

Answered by James Murray

The promotion or operation of mass marketed tax avoidance schemes is not, in or of itself, a criminal offence, unless the promoter is acting in breach of an HM Revenue and Customs Stop Notice.

The Government is committed to tackling tax avoidance and is consulting on a package of measures, including potential new criminal powers, to facilitate swifter and stronger action against those who own or control promoter organisations.

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