If you are non-compliant with UK tax laws, that doesn’t mean that you have a free pass. Read this blog to know how can HMRC still check your personal bank account.
UK Tax Laws: How Can HMRC Check Your Personal Bank Account, if you are non-compliant with the UK Taxation laws
For one reason or the other, Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs (HMRC) could be looking into you to ensure you have paid your tax bill or met another requirement. HMRC has the legal power to verify your personal information and can work with other institutions such as banks by issuing a “third party notice” especially if you are non-compliant with UK tax laws.
At present, HMRC is introducing a separate financial notice to help them gather information more effectively, however, these powers still have some restrictions.
In the end, HMRC intends to reduce the time it takes to obtain information, bringing the United Kingdom into line with worldwide standards. This article looks at how HMRC can go about checking your bank account and why they are allowed to do so.
Does HMRC check bank accounts?
Yes, your pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) records and the information you supply on your self-assessment tax return can be used by HMRC to determine how much you earn. That’s just the numbers you’re providing them with.
If you have further undeclared income, HMRC will use “Connect” and other means to locate it and ensure that you pay the tax due. You’ll also have to pay back taxes.
You may also be considering the UK’s tax evasion punishment regime, which is fairly harsh.
Non-Compliant with UK Tax Laws: Can HMRC ask for my bank and other information?
1) HMRC has the authority to demand information from taxpayers to ensure that they are paying the correct amount of income tax, capital gains tax, corporation tax, and VAT.
This information is occasionally held by third parties, and HMRC can issue a “third party notice” if they want to examine it. Banks and other financial organizations, as well as lawyers, accountants, and real estate brokers, are examples of third parties.
2) HMRC can check your bank accounts through other means that include working with third-party agencies as well as issuing notices directly to commercial banks.
HMRC must notify citizens of such actions, but this is not always the case as investigations usually occur without the knowledge of some citizens.
- DVLA, DWP, Land Registry, Border Agency, Companies House, electoral function, and council tax records are some of the other government departments and agencies.
- Income tax, value-added tax (VAT), corporate tax, and PAYE returns are all included.
- U.K building societies and banks, credit agencies, cryptocurrency platforms, and payment providers online all keep records.
- The common reporting standard, a new global plan to combat tax havens, will provide financial information about your condition in other nations, including the UK.
HMRC can check your bank account
Back in July 2020, HMRC announced the creation of a new ‘financial institution notice’ to speed up the process of obtaining information about a known taxpayer’s tax position from banks and other organizations.
Instead of altering its powers for all third-party notices, HMRC will now create this new notice. Financial institution notices will not require taxpayer or tax tribunal permission, although HMRC argues there will be safeguards: the information must be fairly required.
However, it appears that HMRC can assess what is reasonably required, as notices must be approved by an ‘authorized officer’ of HMRC).
- The financial institution should not have to work too hard to gather the data.
- Unless a tax tribunal ruled that this condition should not apply (in which case the third party will not be allowed to inform the taxpayer about the request), the taxpayer would receive a summary of why the information is needed.
- The financial institution can appeal any penalty it receives for failing to comply.
How Can HMRC Check Your Personal Bank Account?
Unless a tax tribunal finds that this condition should not apply, HMRC will have to tell the taxpayer why they’re requesting the information. As a result, HMRC may be able to request financial information from taxpayers without their agreement.
In the end, HMRC intends to reduce the time it takes to obtain information, bringing the U.K. into line with worldwide standards.
Why does HMRC have the right to check my bank account?
HMRC can check your bank account and/or work with other agencies to verify compliance with the tax law.
At present, HMRC can gauge your payments and income by looking at VAT bills, but they can equally work with other UK agencies to determine if HMRC has broad rights to obtain the information they need to collect tax on people’s earnings, including access to your bank account.
They don’t provide all of the data sources that they use to feed Connect, but if HMRC requires your data from a bank, they notify them of the needed information, and banks are required to comply with HMRC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when I’m investigated by HMRC?
The first step is to get a letter from HMRC informing you of your circumstances. An investigation can be triggered by inconsistencies on your tax return, a tip-off from someone. By this point, the HMRC can use any number of means to obtain relevant information.
What if the HMRC investigation is confidential?
Even if HMRC has obtained permission from the tribunal to keep its tax investigation confidential, the third party is still legally permitted to alert the taxpayer that information has been requested.
Can HMRC Check my bank account without my consent?
HMRC cannot issue a third-party notice without the permission of the taxpayer or the tax tribunal. However, HMRC must demonstrate that the information sought is “reasonably required and will help the investigation in one way or another.
Conclusion
A notice from HMRC will have to be approved by a tax tribunal, an independent body that is responsible for any appeals against HMRC.
Unless a tax tribunal finds that this condition should not apply, HMRC will have to tell the taxpayer why they’re requesting the information.
As a result, HMRC may be able to request financial information from taxpayers without their agreement.
To help you with your Tax needs, check out Sterlinx Global.
