HMRC has been briefed by chancellor Rachel Reeves to crack down on tax evasion with a planned hike in the number of individuals charged every year.

With a commitment not to announce any new tax measures fulfilled, Rachel Reeves flagged her decision not to increase taxes in the Spring Statement, instead focusing on investment in infrastructure and defence spending, and giving HMRC more funding to tackle the dual scourges of tax avoidance and, the much more serious and criminal tax evasion.