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Tackling online VAT fraud and error inquiry

Inquiry

In 2015-16 an estimated £1 billion to 1.5 billion of tax revenue was lost to online VAT fraud and error.

These losses occur when sellers based outside the European Union import goods into the UK for sale to UK customers. Their products are stored in the UK and then dispatched to buyers. VAT goes unpaid when sellers do not declare the correct value of their imported goods, use false VAT numbers, or avoid registering for a VAT number at all.

In April 2017 the National Audit Office (NAO) published an investigation into online VAT fraud and error, and the effectiveness of HMRC's response. It identified difficulties in estimating the scale and impact of the problem, including how much of the lost tax revenue was due to error, and how much was deliberate fraud.

The NAO report also found that VAT registrations from non-EU sellers have increased since HMRC was given legislative powers to enforce compliance in September 2016—but the powers have not led to any prosecutions.

The NAO also looked at the role of online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay in encouraging compliance from sellers using their sites. Both sites have strategies in place to encourage compliance but point out that ultimately responsibility lies with HMRC, which has access to confidential taxpayers' data.

This Public Accounts Committee inquiry will examine the scale of the problem, the Government's response to tackling online VAT fraud and error, and how it will improve its response in the future.

Reports, special reports and government responses

View all reports and responses
1st Report - Tackling online VAT fraud and error
Inquiry Tackling online VAT fraud and error inquiry
HC 312
Report
Response to this report
Treasury Minute on the First Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2017–19
Cm 9549
Government Response
Correspondence with HMRC, dated 27 March 2018
Inquiry Tackling online VAT fraud and error inquiry
Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

View all oral evidence transcripts
13 September 2017
Inquiry Tackling online VAT fraud and error inquiry
Witnesses Richard Allen, Retailers Against VAT Abuse Schemes, Professor Rita de la Feria, Professor of Tax Law, University of LeedsSteve Dishman, Vice President for Taxes, Europe, Amazon, Joe Billante, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for EMEA, eBay, Jon Thompson, Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary, HM Revenue & Customs, Jim Harra, Director General, Customer Strategy and Tax Design, HM Revenue & Customs
Oral Evidence
VATfraud.org (VAT0005)
RAVAS and vatfraud.org (VAT0004)
Amazon (VAT0003)

Contact us

  • Email: pubaccom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 8480 (strictly media enquiries only – contact us via our email for general enquiries)
  • Address: Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA