"The people named are easy targets"
- Richard Murphy of Tax Research
The U.K. tax authority has published names of tax evaders on Thursday as a part of efforts to address public anger over tax evasion at a time of economic austerity. As nation's government is cutting its spending in order to tackle a big budget deficit, taxes have become a sensitive issue in Britain. A list of nine small businesses was released, showing companies receiving penalties ranging from £11,000 to almost £300,000. Authorities also mentioned that the details of defaulters would be published on its website quarterly in case the default would have resulted in a loss to the state of at least 25,000 pounds.
"The publication of these names sends a clear signal that cheating on tax is wrong and reassures people who pay their taxes - the vast majority - that there are consequences for those who refuse to (disclose) their full liability," junior finance minister David Gauke said in a statement which described those named as "tax cheats".
"The people named are easy targets. There are clearly different categories of tax crime, with small businesses who put cash in HMRC's pockets named and shamed; but banks, wealthy lawyers and global corporations offered anonymity. It seems that only little people pay tax and only little people are named and shamed," said Richard Murphy of Tax Research.
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