It is said that death and taxes are the only two things certain in life. Whilst a very morbid phrase, it unfortunately rings true in respect of taxation and HMRC’s policing of the UK tax system.

The new Labour government has now set out its stall, making a range of spending commitments that will inevitably need funding. The Autumn Budget raised the UK’s tax liability by 2.2% of GDP, or £40bn in real terms. These tax rises are part of the puzzle of how the government will fund its ambitious plan, but we also expect HMRC to increase its attention on individuals and businesses whom they suspect may owe tax to the Treasury. In 2025, this increased compliance activity will touch upon a range of areas.