L

Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 16 September 2026

Debate

Business Rates Avoidance Schemes

Contribution

I thank my noble friend for his question. While they do not apply to business rates, additional criminal sanctions were introduced in the Finance Act 2026 that will enhance the deterrent against the promotion of tax avoidance and increase protection against harm caused to the Exchequer, the taxpayer and the tax system. The new measures, when combined with HMRC’s existing powers, mean that promoters of marketed tax avoidance will face large fines or criminal sanctions if they do not disclose their avoidance scheme, promote types of schemes that HMRC has set out as prohibited, do not comply with our information notices or do not stop promoting their schemes when issued with a legal notice requiring them to do so. There is a lot going on, but I accept the point that my noble friend makes.

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