HMRC tip offs rise

Calls to HMRC fraud hotline rose during pandemic HMRC’s fraud hotline received 10,000 calls per month from April to December 2020, an increase of around 1,000 calls per month on the previous years’ 9,000 monthly average. Furlough fraud was likely to be behind many of the calls, as well as some allegations of abuse of the Government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, according to PfP. The insurer speculated that, as a result of financial pressure from the Covid crisis, HMRC may now look to increase the pressure on those under investigation in order to recoup as much revenue as possible.