Finance Bill 2025‑26: A Hype‑Bust on Tax Evasion?
According to Robert Salter, a senior director at the advisory powerhouse Blick Rothenberg, the latest government bill is essentially a lipstick makeover for a problem that truly needs a deeper, cross‑border fix.
Why the Bill Might Miss the Mark
- It focuses heavily on “rogue tax advisors” operating from the UK, but the biggest offenders usually hide in overseas. Think of them as tax pirates sailing in foreign waters.
- UK‑only legislation is like trying to arrest a criminal who lives abroad with just a passport and a phone dictionary. Hard to catch and even harder to bring to a UK courtroom.
- To actually crack down, the bill would need joint systems between HMRC and foreign tax agencies—something the UK could build on its recent trade deals with China and Germany.
- Existing international data‑sharing arrangements could be leveraged, turning the bill from a one‑country club into a global arena.
Daily Penalties: A Play‑Right or a Game‑Changer?
Another proposal is to bump up daily penalties for missing returns—once the courts give the green light. But:
- People who’re already being hounded by HMRC for not filing might face a pile‑up of fines, turning the issue from a tax matter into a social emergency.
- Many of these affected taxpayers are vulnerable, often without a financial rep to steer them. Misfiling may not even cost the Treasury much, yet the penalties could feel punching in the gut.
- There’s a hope that the synergy between HMRC’s processes and court oversight will act like a safety net, preventing the most sensitive folks from getting burned.
Bottom Line
The Finance Bill 2025‑26 might feel like a shiny coat on a rusty machine. Real progress will have to jump beyond borders, cooperate with global tax bodies, and treat vulnerable taxpayers with more compassion than a punitive fin‑chase.
