HMRC given new powers to snoop on taxpayers

Britain's tax authority has secured sweeping new surveillance powers that will allow it to monitor citizens' financial lives with minimal oversight, raising alarm among privacy advocates who warn the measure could turn routine tax compliance into a tool for mass data collection. The powers, granted without explicit parliamentary debate, represent a significant shift in how HMRC can pursue suspected tax evaders—one that critics say tilts the balance sharply away from taxpayer privacy. The move comes as the government faces mounting pressure to close tax gaps, but experts question whether the trade-off in civil liberties is worth the compliance gains.

The Independent·6h ago