Taxpayers foot the bill for evasion

EVADING tax is one thing, but when evaders eventually get taxes written off because of shortcomings in the system operated

Yet, the report of the comptroller and auditor general, John Purcell, which was published yesterday, found that many people who systematically evaded tax will not have to pay up.

In the year 2000, the substantial sum of £104m in taxes due was written off. Last year, the figure soared to £140m.