The first batch of HMRC letters have been sent out under accelerated payment notices (APNs) to chase up disputed tax flagged as unpaid under non-compliant tax avoidance schemes
HMRC has issued 600 APNs to tax avoidance scheme users since late August and is set to ramp up the campaign now that the process is in place.
It has stated that it will be sending out up to 2,500 notices a month until it hits its own target of contacting all 43,000 tax avoidance scheme users.
The taxman hopes to recoup £7.1bn in disputed tax by the end of March 2016, but the first 600 letters only account for £250m of disputed tax under the accelerated payments regime.
Accelerated payments came into force as part of the Finance Act 2014, removing the cashflow advantage from those whose tax avoidance schemes are pending resolution.
Despite recipients having 90 days to pay the tax demanded in the notices, avoidance scheme users have already begun to contact HMRC and to arrange to make payments.
According to HMRC, more users are choosing to contact them about settling their tax affairs rather than wait to receive an accelerated payment notice.
Jennie Granger, director general of enforcement and compliance, HMRC, said: ‘HMRC is making good progress in tackling marketed avoidance as today’s figures illustrate.
‘If anyone is concerned about being able to pay the notice they should contact us as soon as possible to discuss their options.’