Customs & Excise improves fraud crack down
HM Customs & Excise is doing a better job cracking down on tobacco, alcohol and oil frauds.
Link: Customs in VAT scam raid
The National Audit Office has commended Customs and Excise after years of criticism.
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, said: ‘The developments to date reveal a number of areas of good practice for instance, closer co-operation with and understanding of traders, and the provision of dedicated points of contact for large businesses.’
Customs & Excise said the measures on tobacco, oil, VAT and alcohol protected more than £3.5bn in revenue that would have otherwise been at risk.
Alcohol fraud, however, remains a particular problem, and is still costing £650m a year.
