Tax lawyers express concern as HMRC gets power to carry out spot checks
New measures will come into force next April which will do away with rules that require tax inspectors to give self-employed people 24 hours' notice of a visit, according to the Times.
The move comes as HMRC prepares to tackle various tax loopholes that exist in the UK.
It is hoped that the move, which it calls "protecting tax revenue", will raise £660 million in revenue next year alone.
Tax lawyers warned the paper that the change could mean that people have to face inspectors without the chance to obtain legal advice.
Toby Ryland, senior tax manager at Blick Rothenberg, explained to the paper: "It is unhelpful and a significant change to the way they work at the moment. Clients could be put on the spot with no representation or advice."
However, a spokesperson from HMRC said: "The aim of the Powers Review is to align and modernise the powers and taxpayer safeguards that HMRC inherited from Customs & Excise and the Inland Revenue. The intention is to provide greater consistency and alignment of our access to records and information."
The move comes as HMRC prepares to tackle various tax loopholes that exist in the UK.
It is hoped that the move, which it calls "protecting tax revenue", will raise £660 million in revenue next year alone.
Tax lawyers warned the paper that the change could mean that people have to face inspectors without the chance to obtain legal advice.
Toby Ryland, senior tax manager at Blick Rothenberg, explained to the paper: "It is unhelpful and a significant change to the way they work at the moment. Clients could be put on the spot with no representation or advice."
However, a spokesperson from HMRC said: "The aim of the Powers Review is to align and modernise the powers and taxpayer safeguards that HMRC inherited from Customs & Excise and the Inland Revenue. The intention is to provide greater consistency and alignment of our access to records and information."
