FALSE TAX RETURNS

Evening Star, Issue 21621, 17 January 1934, Page 2

FALSE TAX RETURNS

DRIVE AGAINST DEFAULTERS ENORMOUS YEARLY LOSS; Because of the huge amount lost to the British Government .every year through fraudulent income -tux-returns Inland Revenue authorities are ' now seeking an." extension to. their powers to make prosecutions; ■ ■ it is estimated that , the Treasury loses at least £IU,UUO}UOO annually. One thousand inspectors'- are engaged by the authorities, and the major part of-their job is the investigating ol tax returns about which there is any question. ' The work of the authorities in proving frauds and .bringing . prosecutions :is, made more difficult by existing *rdgula-' tions. At present the/afe not/allowed,! to take proceedings in cases where the offence was Committed more than six years ago, and . many : defaulters -have escaped through this loophole. in the event of the penalties against these people being increased it is likely that a “ time sanctuary./ as, suggested by Mr' Ronald'Staples, editor ot ‘ Taxation,’ will be instituted. He proposes that a period of, say, . two years should be set aside, during which time anyone making a confession of haying,defrauded the Treasury should be exempt from all penalties, providing that restitution is ’mule in lull. ,i. ,■;. , i -mviivcd.. that Midi .. a time »a net miry ■' " mean ah' 'extra' £2G ; OUU,OUU to for the