In response to what HMRC say is an increased risk of fraudulent VAT repayment claims in Northern Ireland and Scotland, the VAT repayment taskforce – targeted at individuals and businesses – aims to tackle that and has set a target of bringing in £7 million. The taskforce will be looking in particular at businesses being set up purely for the purpose of making false VAT repayments claims.

Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of activity in specific high-risk trade sectors and locations in the UK. The teams visit traders to examine their records and carry out other investigations.

HMRC has collected more than £90 million as a result of taskforces launched since 2011 and it expects to bring in over £90 million a year from taskforces launched over the next three years.

More information on this specific initiative is available in a HMRC news release.