Internet traders who haven't paid all the tax they owe have now been offered the opportunity to come forward and pay under a newly announced HMRC campaign launched last month.

The new campaign is just one of a number planned by HMRC for 2012. Under the time-limited opportunity, the e-Markets Disclosure Facility, online marketplace traders can pay the tax they owe and benefit from lower penalties available.

HMRC are clear that those who only sell a few items and who are not traders are unlikely to be liable to pay tax on what they sell and will not be targeted by this campaign.

The opportunity opened on 14 March and online marketplace traders can come forward at any time between that date and 14 June to notify HMRC of their intention of making a disclosure. They then have until 14 September to give details of the tax owed and arrange for full payment, including any interest and a reduced penalty due.

We also gather from the HMRC statement that after that date, using information pulled together from many different data sources, HMRC will investigate those who have failed to respond.

More information is available from http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=257&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=423709&SubjectId=36 and http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/campaigns/notify.htm