Government is out of step with rest of the world when it comes to tackling tax avoidance – Peter Dowd

Peter
Dowd MP,
Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, commenting on the
Public Accounts Committee report on tackling online VAT fraud and error:

“The
Public Accounts Committee report reiterates once again that this Conservative
Government is completely out of step with the rest of the world when it comes
to tackling tax avoidance. Despite having an array of unused new powers, HMRC
continues to be outfoxed by large multinational corporations who do not charge
VAT and it is British businesses who are paying for it.

“Instead
of continuing his deluded pursuit of further cuts and more austerity, the
Chancellor should take seriously on board the recommendations in this report
and tackle VAT fraud which is costing taxpayers billions of pounds a year.

“The
next Labour government will introduce our Tax Transparency and Enforcement
Programme which will clamp down on tax avoidance and VAT fraud, so we can build
an economy which works for the many, not the few.”