Plans to give inspectors the power to intercept telephone calls and emails are to get the go-ahead, after the proposals were featured in last week’s serious crimes bill.

The powers, originally intended to assist the war against terror and extended to deal with organised crime and drug barons, are to be given to tax inspectors early, rather than in the next finance bill, as had been expected.

The move has raised fears that the powers could be used against ordinary taxpayers. The decision was revealed by wire tapping commissioner Sir Paul Kennedy, an appeal court judge.

Kennedy, delivering his first report on the use of powers made available under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, said the new powers for HM Revenue & Customs reflected the fact that serious crime gangs were sometimes operating in their area.

Kennedy added: ‘HMRC believes that where the threshold of serious crime is crossed, and it is necessary and proportionate to do so, it is appropriate to use interception.’

The intercept powers are one of a host of changes to the way in which Revenue inspectors operate following their merger with Customs, which has traditionally had stronger powers.