An insider at HM Revenue & Customs has said the taxman is targeting middle class families as they usually don't have accountants and are easier targets than the wealthy.

The claim is to be made in an ITV Tonight programme which will air this evening, the Daily Telegraph reports.

In the programme one senior tax inspector said: 'The bottom line is if you are rich and have an accountant we are less likely to come after you because it costs too much.'

Grant Thornton tax partner Mike Warburton, who features in the programme, said one part of the broadcast would focus on a London taxi driver who was wrongly forced into bankruptcy after HMRC pursued him for a debt of 88p.

Further reading:

Taxman tells lazy to take the bus

Democrats promise tax cuts for middle-income families