HMRC to begin taking money from bank accounts to close £47bn tax hole

It signals a resumption of DRD powers

The rolling out of 'Direct Recovery of Debts' (DRD) powers which allow HMRC to take money directly from bank accounts.

HMRC claim that this new power will only affect "the minority" for people and businesses who "can afford to pay what they owe but are choosing not to.”

While the introduction of DRD powers came into force in 2016 it was put on hold during the Covid pandemic.

Now it is to be reintroduced in order for the government to close a £47bn tax hole in the economy.

In a BBC explainer, BBC Radio 4 Money Box Journalist, Dan Whitworth, explained that DRD can be used to directly take money out of someone's bank account but "only under very specific circumstances."

He said: "The idea is to help HMRC recover tax debts from people who owe at least £1,000, have ignored repeated attempts to make contact, and have no valid appeals outstanding.

"While it sounds alarming, the scale of use in the past shows how rarely it happens.

"When the DRD scheme was first introduced in 2016, HMRC estimated it might be used around 11,000 times a year, but in the two years it was active, up to 2018, it was used only 19 times."

Current stats show that the tax gap in the UK currently sits at an estimated 5.3 per cent, or £46.8bn in 2023/24.

One of Labour's pledges was to cut this gap by raising £7.5bn in unpaid tax with new measures.

HMRC says it would not take money out of an account where it would leave less than £5000 remaining.

The withdrawal of funds is not done in secret either, with a HMRC agent being made to visit the person at home or work.

During the meeting the debt will be checked and alternative methods to repaying the tax will be discussed.

The agent will also make sure the person isn't vulnerable.

In the case that someone objects to the tax recovery, they can appeal the action within a 30-day window.

A briefing from HMRC states: “Some people experience genuine financial difficulty paying their tax. This often happens when their life is affected by a major personal event, or their business develops a problem. HMRC routinely takes a sympathetic approach to those who need additional support.”