As HMRC steps up its pursuit of tax evaders it completed 648 dawn raids in 2024, up from 623 in 2023.

Steven Porter, head of tax disputes & investigation at Pinsent Masons said: ‘That’s an average of 12 properties searched per week, each requiring search warrants, extensive planning, and the training of personnel.

‘It is a very active programme and comes on top of all the prearranged visits that it makes to investigate individuals and businesses.’

In 2022/23 HMRC estimated at least £5.5bn was spent on tackling fraud, while the VAT gap alone for 2023/24 increased to £9.5bn.

For the 2022/23 tax year HMRC charged 540 people with tax evasion, launched 625 criminal investigations into individuals and investigated 225 businesses and people for serious tax evasion.