Data obtained by the law firm indicates HMRC made 500 raids on homes in the past twelve months, up from 445 property raids in 2012/13 and more than triple the number of property raids that HMRC undertook each year between 2008 and 2011. 

Pinsent Masons says that the sharp jump in property raids since 2011 is a result of HMRC’s sustained efforts to deliver its goal of increasing prosecutions for tax evasion. HMRC’s target is to prosecute 1,165 people for tax evasion in 2014-15, five times more than its 2010 target of 250 prosecutions.

Jason Collins, head of tax at Pinsent Masons, said: ‘HMRC is making a huge effort to up the ante against tax evasion, raiding more properties and arresting more suspects to keep up with its criminal prosecutions target. HMRC is also casting their net wider, not only going after the very biggest suspected tax evaders but also increasingly targeting middle class professionals, like bankers and lawyers.’

Collins predicted the number of raids on properties could continue to climb if the HMRC is successful in its plans to introduce a new ‘strict liability’ offence of failing to disclose offshore income.   

‘HMRC's hand will be strengthened even further if it is given the go ahead to do this. This would make it easier to get a warrant to raid a property, as HMRC would no longer have to show a court there are grounds to suspect an intent to evade tax, just that tax was due and not declared, even if it was an oversight or error on the part of the taxpayer,’ Collins said.