Errant health workers have just weeks to own up about their tax affairs or risk HM Revenue & Customs coming after them, Ian Shirley, tax investigations manager at the Midlands office of national audit, tax and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill, has warned.
Aromatherapists and osteopaths are among those being targeted.
The latest HMRC campaign was signaled late last year aimed at those health and wellbeing professionals with income they may have kept quiet about.
The campaign covers physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, chiropodists, podiatrists, homeopaths, dieticians, nutritional therapists, reflexologists, acupuncturists, psychologists, speech, language and art therapists and others.
Excluded are doctors and dentists who were covered by a previous HMRC push, and nurses and social workers.
Mr Shirley said: “People had until December 31 to notify HMRC of their intention to cooperate.”
“Those who made such a notification now have until April 6 to make a full disclosure with payment. The Health and Wellbeing Tax Plan provides an opportunity for them to bring their affairs up to date on the best terms available.
“By using the campaign to come forward voluntarily, they can expect a reduction in the level of penalties being applied from the maximum of 100 per cent of the additional tax found due.”
Mr Shirley added: “HMRC is promising to take ‘a much closer look’ at the tax affairs of health professionals suspected of having something to hide
“After April 6, it will use information it holds from third parties and regulatory bodies to identify people who have not paid what they owe. Penalties sought by HMRC are likely to be high – or even criminal prosecution could follow.”
“It is never advisable to gamble and hope you get overlooked.”
“Those who do, play a dangerous game which could rebound on them with a vengeance.”